Haulin' Water at Lake Chautauqua

 
By President Mark Davis
October 21, 2013
 

Chief Charles Rugg and the folks at the Ashville FD in Chautauqua County, New York hosted our 2-day Rural Water Supply Opertions Seminar this past weekend (October 19th/20th). The program culminated in the traditional, 2-hr tanker shuttle operation. The participants did a great job of hauling water and were able to reach a 4-dump tank operation that supported a 1,515 gpm peak flow at the end of the drill. Eight tankers (including two vacuum tankers) and three fill sites were used to support the operation. Water flow was never interrupted and everyone did a great job of continually expanding the operation.

In addition, we were able to purchase a 24th brick in the NFFF Walk-of-Honor with the proceeds from the seminar's T-shirt and hat raffle! Instructors for the weekend were Mark Davis and Shane Darwick.

We will be posting several video clips from the drill this past weekend on our YouTube channel this week.
 
Participants practice setting up a drafting operation at Lake Chautauqua.
Participants practice setting up a drafting operation at Lake Chautauqua.
Ashville FD Engine 302 (1,500 gpm) drafts at the ferry launch on Lake Chautauqua and supplies a tanker loading station.
Ashville FD Engine 302 (1,500 gpm) drafts at the ferry launch on Lake Chautauqua and supplies a tanker loading station.
 
Operating the loading valve.
Operating the loading valve.
Ashville FD's 4,200-gallon vacuum tanker self-loads from a dump tank at the ferry site.
Ashville FD's 4,200-gallon vacuum tanker self-loads from a dump tank at the ferry site.
 
Placing a portable pump in-service to fill the dump tank at the ferry site so that the vacuum tanker can load.
Placing a portable pump in-service to fill the dump tank at the ferry site so that the vacuum tanker can load.
Panama FD Engine 384 (1,000 gpm) drafts from a dry fire hydrant and loads tankers using 4-inch LDH.
Panama FD Engine 384 (1,000 gpm) drafts from a dry fire hydrant and loads tankers using 4-inch LDH.
 
Chautauqua FD Engine 212 (1,500 gpm) assumes the role of the attack engine as the 2-hr drill begins.
Chautauqua FD Engine 212 (1,500 gpm) assumes the role of the attack engine as the 2-hr drill begins.
Chautauqua Tanker 211 dumps its 4,200 gallons at the dump site.
Chautauqua Tanker 211 dumps its 4,200 gallons at the dump site.
 
Making a water transfer device without using a jet siphon.
Making a water transfer device without using a jet siphon.
AC Grover takes charge as the Water Supply Officer.
AC Grover takes charge as the Water Supply Officer.
 
Keeping it going'!
Keeping it going'!
A four-dump tank operation supporting a 1,515 gpm flow.
A four-dump tank operation supporting a 1,515 gpm flow.
 
It's full!
It's full!
Busti FD Engine 311 (1,500 gpm) drafts from the lake and supports a tanker loading station.
Busti FD Engine 311 (1,500 gpm) drafts from the lake and supports a tanker loading station.
 
The 2-hour mark!
The 2-hour mark!