Hauling Water - Oregon Style!
 
By President Mark Davis
May 9, 2024
 

On May 4, 2024, members and apparatus from the Lane Fire Authority and surrounding departments participated in a rural water supply tender shuttle operation as part of our 16-hr Rural Water Supply Operations Seminar that was sponsored by Region 5 Training Association and hosted by the Lane Fire Authority. The goal was to establish and sustain at least a 500 gpm flow using the five tenders and one fill site. The drill was held at Fern Ridge Lake and started off as a nurse tender operation that eventually transitioned to a dump tank operation. The folks spent Friday morning and afternoon reviewing the best practices of hauling water with tenders and did some more of that Saturday morning. The seminar culminated Saturday afternoon with the water shuttle drill. Many thanks to Region 5 Training Association for sponsoring the event and many thanks to the Lane Fire Authority for the excellent logistical support.

The seminar was also a huge milestone for us as we completed work in our 42nd State. Prior to this event our record stood at 41 States and 3 provinces! Thanks so much for choosing us for your water supply training.
 
Units: Lane Engine 105, Lane Engine 112, Lane Engine 121, Lane Tender 102, McKenzie Tender 1612, Corvallis Tender 143, Siusaw Tender 631, and Siusaw Tender 635.
 
Many thanks to Lane Fire Authority for hosting the seminar.
Many thanks to Lane Fire Authority for hosting the seminar.
Lane's large drive-through station was perfect for getting folks out of the inclement weather on the first day of class.
Lane's large drive-through station was perfect for getting folks out of the inclement weather on the first day of class.
 
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Reviewing the water transfer process.
Reviewing the water transfer process.
 
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Using the "through-the drain sleeve" maneuver.
Using the "through-the drain sleeve" maneuver.
 
Using a barrel strainer to achieve maximum flow in the tank; most of the available low-level strainers were underperforming.
Using a barrel strainer to achieve maximum flow in the tank; most of the available low-level strainers were underperforming.
Nice added feature by the local FD.
Nice added feature by the local FD.
 
Reviewing drafting operations.
Reviewing drafting operations.
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Getting ready to deploy TurboDraft at the fill site practical session.
Getting ready to deploy TurboDraft at the fill site practical session.
TurboDraft's output.
TurboDraft's output.
 
Using a 290 gpm trash pump to support the open relay operation.
Using a 290 gpm trash pump to support the open relay operation.
Reviewing the best practices of loading tenders.
Reviewing the best practices of loading tenders.
 
All set for the drill. The siamese is supplying a "make believe" attack pumper - a TFT Blitzfire.
All set for the drill. The siamese is supplying a "make believe" attack pumper - a TFT Blitzfire.
1st tender arrives and supplies the attack pumper.
1st tender arrives and supplies the attack pumper.
 
The 2nd tender arrives and pumps off its water.
The 2nd tender arrives and pumps off its water.
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Crews worked hard with minimum staffing to support the 500+ gpm operation using 5 tenders and one fill site.
Crews worked hard with minimum staffing to support the 500+ gpm operation using 5 tenders and one fill site.
Good looking jet siphons.
Good looking jet siphons.
 
One person assigned solely to run the jet siphons. Good job keeping the process going!
One person assigned solely to run the jet siphons. Good job keeping the process going!
The final drafting arrangement at the dump site pumper.
The final drafting arrangement at the dump site pumper.