Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department
Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

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2024 Incidents
Jan 90
Feb 78
Mar 80
Apr 24
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Total 272

2024 Jobs
Fires 6
Cuts 5

Past Incidents
2023 958
2022 1112
2021 900
2020 984
2019 873
2018 907
2017 872
2016 931
2015 884
2014 797
2013 830
2012 862
2011 874
2010 843
2009 773
Total 13400


Water Supply Planning

This section gives extensive planning methods and tactics about setting up a Water Supply Program for your own department. It includes staff positions, layout plans, SOP's, ISO factors, and much more.  Feel free to use this for educational and training purposes.

References

RURAL FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS - LARRY DAVIS - ISFSI
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WATER SUPPLY HANDBOOK
WILLIAM ECKMAN
FIRE ENGINEERING BOOKS
NFPA 1142 (FORMERLY NFPA 1231)
WATER SUPPLY MANUAL - MVFD - WWW.MVFD.COM



Disclaimer

THE FOLLOWING PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES ARE THOSE WHICH WORKED FOR THE MECHANICSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
EVERY DEPARTMENT IS DIFFERENT AND MUST MODIFY OR CREATE PROCESSES WHICH WORKS BEST FOR THEIR OWN DEPARTMENT

Planning VS Maintenance

MASTER PLANNING:
DETERMINE LEVEL OF RISK - NEEDED FIRE FLOW/CRITICAL FLOW RATE
EVALUATE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S ABILITY TO DELIVER NEEDED FIRE FLOW - ISO EVALUATION
MAXIMIZE USE OF EXISTING RESOURCES
DEVELOP LONG RANGE PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENTS
PROGRAM MAINTENENCE:
CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT IN WATER SUPPLY CAPABILITY
ADAPTING TO NEW DEMANDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Water Supply Program Maintenance

>  STAFFING
DEVELOPING WATER SUPPLY SOURCES
DEVELOPING STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

Staff Positions

WATER SUPPLY OFFICER
MAP OFFICER
PREFIRE PLANNING OFFICER
TRAINING OFFICER

Water Supply Officer Duties

Respond to serious working fires to advise the Incident Commander in reference to water supply matters and/or manage water supply operations
Develop new water sources where required
Make an annual inspection of designated water sources to evaluate continued reliability and continued access
Make updates, as required, of the Water Supply Preplans
Evaluate new water sources and add useable sources to the Water Supply Preplan Book
Establish and maintain a notice board in the fire station to keep personnel advised of hydrants out of service, back in service, new hydrants and new water sources
Develop and/or modify and implement Water Supply SOPs with the approval of the Fire Chief
Review all new water supply preplans to ensure their accuracy and adequacy
Make an annual inspection of the Water Supply Preplan Books to insure that they are in good condition and up to date
Conduct hydrant flow tests as necessary and incorporate data of available fire flows into preplans and the appropriate maps
Act as liaison with the ISO during any grading inspections as they apply to water supply
Develop the plan to reduce the Department's ISO rating
Coordinate with training officer to conduct the inter-company training required

Water Supply Officer Duties

Develop or purchase maps of all hydrant areas showing:

Location of hydrant in relation to streets or roads
Location of towers, pumping stations valves, mains, storage tanks, etc.
Fire flow for the areas shown

Develop or purchase maps of non hydrant areas showing:

Location of all primary water sources

Develop maps of all non-hydrant areas showing how the address numbers run
Make necessary updates as areas are built up
Develop map books to be placed in the station and on apparatus including Chief's vehicles
Update map books as necessary
Inspect map books no less than yearly to ensure that they are in good condition and that they are complete
Act as a focal point person for membership to provide information on new developments which may require map book updates
Act as Chairman of the map book committee and assist the Water Supply Officer in his duties

Preplanning Officer Duties

Conduct surveys of the target hazards in the first due area of the department for the purpose of gathering and storing information relevant to fire fighting, needed fire flow and water supply operations
Conduct NFPA 1231 surveys of all new target hazards and any target hazards which undergo significant changes which would alter the minimum water supply required for fire fighting
Develop a Water Supply Preplan for all new target hazards with the assistance and under the direction of the Water Supply Officer
Conduct on site company familiarization visits and in station drills to acquaint all members with the target hazard and the applicable water supply plan
Act as Chairman of the preplanning committee and assist the Water Supply Officer in his duties
Assist the Water Supply Officer in his annual inspection of the Water Supply Preplan Books to ensure that all the books are up to date and incorporate any necessary revisions or additions

Training Officer Duties
(Water Supply Related)

Conduct company practical drills in department water supply procedures
Conduct mutual aid company drills at least three times a year
Conduct multicompany water supply drills at least annually

Water Supply Program Maintenance

>  STAFFING
>  DEVELOPING WATER SUPPLY SOURCES
DEVELOPING STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

Water Sources   Determine Source Characteristics
SURVEY FIRST DUE AREA FOR ALL WATER SOURCES   LOCATION
DETERMINE SOURCE CHARACTERISTICS   ACCESSIBILITY
SELECT PRIMARY SOURCES   DISTANCE IN FEET TO SUITABLE TANKER FILL SITE
OBTAIN OWNER PERMISSION   RELIABILITY
MARK ALL SITES   FLOW RATE IF HYDRANT
MAP WATER SOURCE (1ST DUE MAP AND SITE MAP)   VOLUME IF POND
CERTIFY SOURCE (ISO CREDITED SOURCES ONLY)   SPEED AND SIZE IF STREAM

Survey Form

Select Primary Sources

BASE SELECTION ON:

LOCATION - EVERY 2 TO 3 MILES

ACCESSIBILITY - ALL WEATHER

RELIABILITY- ALL SEASON

DISTANCE TO FILL SITE - 1000 GPM FILL RATE

KEEP RECORD OF SECONDARY SOURCES FOR FUTURE USE OR A FIRE ON SITE


Owner Permission Form Water Source Map Large Scale Map
Highway Marker

ISO Certifications

FOR PONDS: BASED ON VOLUME
FOR STREAM: BASED ON WATERSHED
FOR HYDRANT: BASED ON ISO RATING SCHEDULE

Water Supply Program Maintenance

STAFFING
DEVELOPING WATER SUPPLY SOURCES
>  DEVELOPING STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

Standard Operating Procedures

GOAL
HAVE A RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY ESTABLISHED BEFORE INITIAL ATTACK ENGINE BOOSTER TANK IS EMPTY
HAVE CAPABILITY TO SUSTAIN (AND INCREASE) WATER SUPPLY WITHOUT INTERRUPTION

Sample SOP's ICS Structure Apparatus Assignments
COMMAND STRUCTURE FIRST ENGINE LAYS FROM
HARD SURFACE
APPARATUS ASSIGNMENTS USE CLAPPER SIAMESE ON LAYOUT
LINE
INITIAL OPERATIONS 1ST AND 2ND WATER SUPPLY
APPARATUS PUMP SIAMESE
SUSTAINED OPERATIONS DRAFT SITE PUMPER ON FIRST
ALARM
   
   
   
   
   

Use of Humat as Siamese   Layout Line
 
     
Quick Connect Couplings   Dump Site Kit
 
     
Fill Site Hose Load
 

Initial Operations

SET UP FOLDING TANK(S) AS REQUIRED
DRAFT PUMPER PROCEEDS DIRECTLY TO WATER SOURCE


Sustained Operations   WSO Checklist
     
CHECKLIST  

NUMBER OF TANKERS REQUIRED  
OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
NUMBER OF TANKERS REQUIRED    CHART ASSUMTIONS
DESIRED FLOW ONE WAY TRAVEL DISTANCE   Assumed Values:
GALLONS PER MINUTE 1 MILE 2 MILE  3 MILE   Tank Capacity 2000 gallons
1000 GPM 6 8 10   Dump Preparation Time 1 minute
900 GPM 6 7 9   Dump Rate 1000 gpm
800 GPM 5 7 8   Dump Breakdown Time  30 seconds
700 GPM 5 6 7   Fill Preparation Time 1 minute
600 GPM 4 5 6   Fill Rate 1000 gpm
500 GPM 3 4 5   Fill Breakdown Time  30 seconds
400 GPM 3 4 4      
300 GPM 2 3 3   Travel Time: 0.65 + 1.7 x Distance  
200 GPM 2 2 2      
100 GPM 1 1 1      

Observation Assessment

OBSERVATION RESOURCE SITUATION ACTION
TANKERS WAITING AT DUMP SITE  A. MORE STORAGE CAPACITY NEEDED ADD FOLDING TANKS
  OR  
  B. MORE DUMP ACCESS POINTS NEEDED ADD FOLDING OR SET UP PUMP OFF OPERATION
  OR  
  C. FIREGROUND FLOW RATE LESS THAN SHUTTLE CAPACITY ADVISE INCIDENT COMMANDER THAT HE CAN INCREASE FIREGOUND FLOW RATE
TANKERS WAITING AT FILL SITE NOT ENOUGH FILL POINTS SET UP ADDITIONAL FILL SITE OR ADD FILL SITE PUMPER
NO TANKERS WAITING AT DUMP OR FILL SITE ADDITIONAL SHUTTLE TANKERS NEEDED CALL FOR ADDITIONAL TANKERS
 
Back To Water Supply
 
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