RURAL FIRE COMMAND

By Mike Kucsma

I’d like to think that the fire service is starting to make some strides when it comes to reducing apparatus accidents and, therefore, the number of injuries and fatalities associated with such incidents. And although I could make driving safety the topic of this article—and even address some personal near misses—I’m going to leave that to my colleagues who deliver the driving safety and seatbelt message louder and more often. But I will ask you to listen to their message.

In this article, I’d like to fast-forward past the initial response and instead address safety and best practices during tanker shuttle (water-hauling) operations. Note: When I refer to fire apparatus, be it a tanker or a tender, I’m talking about trucks. I’ve been involved in some humorous conversations in the command post at the National Fire Academy where someone was adamant that “Tankers fly and tenders drive.” In this article, the tenders and tankers drive.

Visibility
What do your personnel wear while operating at a dump site or fill site? Street clothes? A station uniform? Turnout gear with NFPA-compliant reflective striping? Hopefully, the answer is an ANSI-compliant Class III vest. Even if the roadways have been closed, all personnel should wear these vests in order to be as noticeable as possible to apparatus operators maneuvering around the incident.

Additionally, stay in the operator’s field of view and don’t get between a moving apparatus and a fixed object (i.e., folding tank, guardrail, another piece of apparatus). If you must spot an apparatus backing up, make sure the operator can see you in the mirror and maintain radio contact.

Selecting Your Sites
You must carefully consider your fill site and dump site areas. It may seem like the best site is the one that’s closest to the incident; however, if access to the fill site is difficult and will require excessive apparatus maneuvering, it may not be the best choice. A fill site farther away that requires little or no maneuvering may create a smoother operation and will certainly be safer. On a similar note, trucks should not have to pull in and then back out. If a different location and a little extra hose can eliminate that, you know what to do—pick that site.

Dump Site Set-Up & Staging
How do you set up your folding (portable) tanks? When my department’s apparatus were outfitted with side dump chutes, we transitioned from setting up our folding tanks in a diamond pattern to setting them up in a straight line, eliminating the need for apparatus to back up to the tanks (See Figure).

Sometimes, we don’t use folding tanks, and a tank truck or engine is used as a nurse tender. The tender should have supply lines stretched to an area where the trucks in the water shuttle can pull up, hook up, offload, unhook and then drive away.

If resources (including personnel) are available, consider setting up cones and establishing a clear “lane” so apparatus in the water shuttle know where to drive in—and out.

Additionally, consider this: When trucks are approaching the dump site, have them stage a short distance up the road until they’re called to the folding tanks or nurse tender. Fewer trucks at the site will help minimize chances of an accident. You might consider this at the fill site as well.

Fill Site
Wherever you choose to set up your fill site, whether at a municipal hydrant or a static water source, the key is to set it up with safety and efficiency in mind. The source engine (pumper) should have hoselines extended out to allow apparatus in the water shuttle to drive in, hook up, fill, unhook and drive away. If the fill site is down a road that doesn’t allow for this (such as a pond at the end of a narrow driveway), you can lay in a large-diameter hoseline, and a second pumper can be used to fill the water shuttle apparatus. Note: When operating on an open roadway, make every effort to utilize traffic control devices to enhance the safety of the personnel at the scene.

Personnel
Although I wouldn’t dare say that you can have too many personnel at a fire scene, I do believe we must allocate personnel appropriately. When setting up a dump or fill site, many hands will make quick work. After the sites are set up, I suggest keeping only essential personnel at the site. Extra personnel operating around maneuvering fire apparatus (and civilian vehicles) just creates more opportunities for a mishap.

Road Closures
My department and our mutual-aid departments have the good fortune of active fire/police companies. We also have good cooperation from our police department. This allows us to close any roads necessary for the duration of an incident. Closing the road eliminates the hazard of civilian drivers rubbernecking through your emergency scene. If you don’t have a fire police company/squad, it’s worth looking into the possibilities. And if you don’t have a working relationship with the law enforcement agency in your jurisdiction, it would be highly beneficial to develop one.

What Route Do You Take?
The shortest route between two points is a straight line; however, the most efficient route between the dump site and fill site will probably not be a straight line. Even though it may mean traveling a greater distance, a water-shuttle route that has apparatus travel in a circle (so to speak) would be preferable. This eliminates backing up and large apparatus passing each other on sometimes smaller roads. Next time you have a few free minutes, take a look at a map program online. Think about a fire you’ve responded to or the one that makes you think: What would we do if this area burned? Look at what you might use for water supply. Identify a primary shuttle route as well as a Plan B.

On a similar note, consider what mode of travel you’re in. After you arrive at the emergency scene, do you drive with lights and sirens in the water shuttle route? It’s certainly a local choice that should be reflected in your standard operating procedures or guidelines.

In Sum
Our No. 1 goal at a fire should be to go home in the same condition we showed up in, albeit a little tired or dirty. If we don’t do things safely and we get hurt, who’s going to help the people who called us in the first place?

For additional information, consult “Safe Operation of Fire Tankers,” by the U.S. Fire Administration. This book contains information about the causes of tanker crashes and how to prevent crashes, as well as useful statistics and case histories. It’s available both in print and online at www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa-248.pdf.

Mike Kucsma has served for 19 years with the Gorham (Maine) Fire Department, including 7 years as deputy chief. Additionally, he has spent the last 16 years with the Portland (Maine) Fire Department and is currently a captain with the ARFF station. He is a certified municipal fire instructor.