Spotted a hydrant behind a commercial strip today, but then noticed something else. Would you position your apparatus behind this structure during a working fire? The retaining wall on the right becomes taller as it bends out of site, finally topping out at 20 feet in height. It extends to the other end of the block.

 

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I'd position a truck, maybe two, right at the corner of the building. Perfect hydrant location, outside the collapse zone and good view of B & D sector.
Correction: I meant B & C sectors.
And judging by the building construction, I would think that this structure does have a sprinkler system. I wonder where the FDC is. It'd be a shame to have it in the rear there because if how much hose line that would have to be run if one were going to try to support it.

We also don't know how far back or how high that stone wall and fence line on the right runs. That could actually help somewhat with exposure protection. Regardless, the limited room there may be a good opportunity for a Quint to use the hydrant; 75' ladder or so for exposure protection in the C sector, remove a pumper/engine from that supply and let it tap the hydrant to supply somewhere else (if the hydrant is not at a dead end that is).
Yes, we would most likely do it.

It is.

Definitely looks like you'd be well inside the collapse zone in the "canyon" created by the retaining wall on the one side and the structure on the other.  The hydrant is in a good place judging by the shadows, it's at the corner of the row of buildings.

If the place is on fire and it makes sense to attack from the rear would you really not park there because of the collapse zone?  This isn't some lightweight construction house.  

Aerial photo required please Norm.  Or give us a link to Google Earth.

 

We all comment depending on what we are used to, what we train with.  For me, without having a better look I'd be viewing the construction as pre-cassed conrete slabs, Tilt-slab construction.  We wouldn't be putting trucks anywhere near the buildings.

Sorry it took me so long to catch your comment. Go to Google maps and paste the name of the street that runs behind the strip shown in the photo. I was east of the S curve in the alley looking west...

760 red oak lane, weatherford, tx

Thanks for that Norm - it all helps.  Pretty good access from east, west and south, and a pumper near the hydrant, yes.  I still wouldn't be putting a vehicle up that alley next to tilt-slab buildings.

You see what I'm getting at. I simply saw that canyon the other day and thought, "Holy cow. The entire alley is a collapse zone. The buildings will not be completely accessible from the rear in case of a major fire. Guess that's what insurance is for..." Everyone agrees that the hydrant in the foreground is well-placed.
It's in Weatherford, Texas. Hadn't even though about weather factors.

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