Hauling Water - Baldwin County Style!
 
By President Mark Davis
February 23, 2017
 

Crews from all around Baldwin County, Alabama spent their weekend (February 18/19) in Barnwell, AL fine tuning their water hauling skills. The Baldwin County Fire Chiefs Association sponsored our 16-hr Rural Water Supply Operations Seminar and the Barnwell VFD hosted the weekend. The program was well-attended with more than 60 participants from the Baldwin County area - including representatives from ISO. Several equipment vendors displayed their wares during the seminar. NAFECO and Sunbelt Fire provided lunch for both days -which consisted of some excellent, Southern-style cooking! In addition, many "door" prizes were given away, including two, Husky dump tanks.

The 16-hr seminar culminated with the traditional, 2-hr tanker shuttle drill. Mobile Bay served as the water supply for the drill and crews did a great job of hauling water and supporting a 1,000 gpm flow during the drill period. A single, 1750 gpm pumper was used at the dump site and that rig drafted using four intakes to support a 1,450 gpm peak flow while flowing four jet siphons - quite impressive.

A full summary will be posted in a week or so. Many thanks to Chief Roy Glenn and Chief Gary Patrick for their outstanding logistical efforts.
 
Tanker stage at the Barnwell station and await dispatch.
Tanker stage at the Barnwell station and await dispatch.
Barnwell Engine 75 (1,750 gpm) arrives at the dump site and crews begin the set up for dump site operations.
Barnwell Engine 75 (1,750 gpm) arrives at the dump site and crews begin the set up for dump site operations.
 
Plans were underway from the beginning to use at least the front suction inlet and the driver side suction inlet.
Plans were underway from the beginning to use at least the front suction inlet and the driver side suction inlet.
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Water flow was measured using a fixed-pitot flow test device and was expanded later to include a Hose Monster flow diffuser.
Water flow was measured using a fixed-pitot flow test device and was expanded later to include a Hose Monster flow diffuser.
Stapleton's vacuum tanker was one of two vacuum tankers used in the drill.
Stapleton's vacuum tanker was one of two vacuum tankers used in the drill.
 
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Crews set up for water transfer operations.
Crews set up for water transfer operations.
 
A three-dump tank set-up was used to support the 1,000 gpm flow.
A three-dump tank set-up was used to support the 1,000 gpm flow.
Tankers waiting to dump.
Tankers waiting to dump.
 
Loading tankers out of Mobile Bay.
Loading tankers out of Mobile Bay.
One loading station used a portable monitor to keep water moving in between loading tankers.
One loading station used a portable monitor to keep water moving in between loading tankers.
 
Two pumpers draft from a boat launch area and run two loading stations.
Two pumpers draft from a boat launch area and run two loading stations.
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1,450 gpm flow using three dump tanks, four suction inlets, and four jet siphons.
1,450 gpm flow using three dump tanks, four suction inlets, and four jet siphons.