Drafting Tip #13 - Damming a Stream
 
By President Mark Davis
January 21, 2016
 

There are times when a stream is too shallow for drafting operations but adequate in size and flow if the water flow can be impounded. A quick thinking engine crew equipped with a roof ladder and salvage cover and a few hand tools can build a dam so that water can be collected to improve drafting operations. The folks at the Eureka VFC in Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, demonstrated how to build this type of dam during a drafting drill in September 2015. While two members worked to build the dam, the engine driver and officer worked to set up the 2,250 gpm pumper for drafting. The dam was built in about 10 minutes and water quickly "built up" to a workable depth and capacity. The engine was able to draft from both sides of the single-lane bridge and flow 2,000 gpm during the drill.