Firefighters Learn Water Supply Tactics, Even Without A Hydrant Nearby

August 24, 2024

Escambia County Fire Rescue (ECFR) crews from Molino, Beulah, and Myrtle Grove recently participated in a joint training exercise focused on water supply and drafting operations.

Drafting operations are essential when firefighters need to source water from static sources like lakes, streams, or dry hydrants. These techniques are crucial, especially in rural areas where fire hydrants may be limited or nonexistent.

During the training, firefighters utilized trucks and a large “drop tank” to transport and supply water to the scene of a fire. This capability is essential for ensuring a continuous water supply, even in challenging conditions, ECFR said.

ECFR said the training is critical, especially when responding to fires where a fire hydrant is unavailable. These operations are common in rural areas but may occasionally occur in urban areas of the county.

The training exercise was held at the Escambia County Equestrian Center in Beulah.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Firefighters Learn Water Supply Tactics, Even Without A Hydrant Nearby”

  1. dave lamb on August 25th, 2024 11:47 pm

    In a lot of rural areas across this nation, the only source for a fire to Tanker trucks go to the nearest source of water and bring water to the tanks. Most fires can be extinguished by these large portable tanks as long as the Tanker trucks can be fast enough to keep the needed supply of water. rural water lines can’t support the flow of water to keep the tanks full.

  2. Anne on August 24th, 2024 2:18 pm

    @ JJ
    You are SO RIGHT….County/State allow permits for new building of small and huge numbers of homes without even an eyeblink to how Fire Service can be done.
    Not just a disservice to the Safety but also a big hit by Insurance for homeowners if no immediiate fire hydrant available.
    Often wonder how many Dry Hydrants there are.
    Who monitors the hydrants water pressures?
    Many Thanks to those who go into dangerous, life threatening situations for the good of We the People….You are Heroes.

  3. JJ on August 24th, 2024 10:18 am

    Firehydrant across the street cant be used. Against state law to have a hydrant on a 4″ main! Molino needs a Century grant to fix this. New sub division at end of CR196 is a laughing matter to us plumbers