GENERAL ORDER

Vincent C. Gray Mayor Kenneth B. Ellerbe Fire & EMS Chief

Series

Number

Originating Unit

Effective Date

Expiration Date

2011
Subject:

01

OFC

March 14, 2011

N/A

Manual Change

Make the following changes to the Fire&EMS Operations Bulletin Book: 1. Remove and replace Firefighting Operations Bulletin 11.

Kenneth B. Ellerbe Fire & EMS Chief

Attachment(s): Firefighting Operations Bulletin 11 (revised)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT Firefighting Operations Bulletin No. 11 March 2011

Water Supply Contingency Plan Utilizing LDH Relays DCFD Water Supply Engine Company Standard Operating Guidelines
Scope The following procedures are guidelines for the Water Supply Engine (WSE) when the WSE is dispatched on a Box Alarm or the Water Supply Task Force. The WSEs are assigned to supply the fire ground with an ample supply of water from a location determined based on information available. This must be accomplished in a timely manner by following these guidelines. Definitions Water Supply Engine WSE; An engine with a supply of LDH hose staffed with a minimum of a Driver Water Supply Engine Company WSEC; a WSE in tandem with shared house Eng. Co. (E-54 & E-11) Water Supply Task Force (3) Water Supply Engine Companies and a Battalion Fire Chief

Water Supply Engines are assigned to each Battalion at the following locations:

Engine 51 - assigned to Engine 12 Engine 52 - assigned to Engine 3 Engine 53 - assigned to Engine 19 Engine 54 - assigned to Engine 11 Engine 55 - assigned to Engine 21 Engine 56 - assigned to Engine 16

(1st Battalion) (2nd Battalion) (3rd Battalion) (4th Battalion) (5th Battalion) (6th Battalion)

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT BULLETIN NO.11 Staffing Policy
If extra personnel are available, the Water Supply Engines (WSE) may be staffed as driver only or fully staffed depending on the needs of the Department. Water Supply Engines (WSE) with no assigned staff will operate as a two-piece Engine Company in cooperation with the Engine Company in that station. Upon receipt of an alarm requesting a Water Supply Engine Company, the regular Engine Company assigned to that station will split their personnel and respond to the scene with their regularly assigned Engine and their Water Supply Engine as a two-piece Engine Company. For example, one firefighter and the officer will respond on the regularly assigned apparatus (i.e., Engine 3) and the remaining two firefighters will respond on the Water Supply Engine (i.e., Engine 52). The two Engines will respond in tandem and retain their original radio designation (i.e. Engine 3 and Engine 52). Incident Commanders will utilize Water Supply Engine Company or Companies to enhance water supply. In the event that the Water Supply Engine is partially or fully staffed, the Water Supply Engine will respond to the scene as the Water Supply Engine. When receiving an alarm and while responding, the Water Supply Engines will advise the Incident Commander requesting the Water Supply Engine Company of their staffing level, such as driver only or fully staffed. The Water Supply Engine Companies will be staffed at the discretion of the Operations- Deputy Fire Chief.

MARCH 2011

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Dispatch Policy and Response Configuration

The following dispatch policy and response configuration is written for the WSE being staffed with a Driver or fully staffed. When the unit is not staffed and dispatched, as stated above, the in house Engine Company or the Engine Company designated will split the Company members and respond as a Water Supply Engine Company. Dispatch Policy Battalion Water Supply Engine (WSE) when staffed and in service will be dispatched as follows: on all Box Alarms in their specific geographical Battalion; pre-planned locations; and areas with a known low water supply. When the closest Battalion WSE is not available, the next closest WSE or WSEC will be dispatched.

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Response Configuration When the Battalion WSE (staffed and in service) is dispatched the following procedures will define the initial response. If the Engine Company housed in the same quarters as a staffed WSE (Engine 21 with WSE 55) is dispatched on the original Box Alarm assignment, there will be no operational changes for that Engine Company and they will assume their normal SOG responsibilities. The WSE will act as a single resource until the Incident Commander assigns resources to assist them. In Areas noted to have low water pressure and/or preplanned: When the Engine Company is NOT assigned to the original Box Alarm, that Engine Company will respond with the WSE and serve as two piece Water Supply Engine Company (WSEC) responsible for the incidents water supply. (As currently affecting the 3rd & 5th) Areas with no known water pressure problems: The Engine will not respond with the WSE. For example, a box Alarm is dispatched in the 4th Battalion and E-11 is not assigned to the Box, there is no known Water Supply problem in the area, no pre-planned locations, E-54 WSE (staffed) will respond alone on the initial Box assignment. The above will have to be known by OUC and BFC can request changes on the dispatch.

Water Supply Task Force

Dispatch The Water Supply Task Force will be dispatched on all 2nd Alarm incidents or when specifically requested by the Incident Command. This Task Force will be made up of the closest 3 Water Supply Engines and a BFC. WSE will verbally acknowledge to the Task Force Leader (Note this is always dispatched as Task Force initially the IC may designate a Logistics Section Chief later if required or desired under the ICS). Radio channel A-13 will be the designated channel for the Task Force to operate. The Task

Force Leader will communicate with Operations on the Fire Ground Tac Channel (or the Logistic Chief will communicate with the Incident Commander) to assure the needs of the incident are completed when it concerns Water Supply. The WS Task Force operational channel shall be a different channel, not in the specific Talk Group of the fire ground operational Tac channel.
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The Task Force Leader (or Logistic Section Chief) will direct the staging, positioning and the operations of the apparatus.

The following outlines the actions taken by the WSE, WSEC, or the Task Force Leader, depending on the dispatch in establishing a Water Supply on an incident.
Responding Respond on the Box Alarm: Status I-mobile and acknowledge to the IC on the Tac channel that the WSE or WSEC is Responding; WSE Driver; Water Supply Engine-54 to Battalion 4, responding with one person (or driver only) The Engine OIC; E-11 to Battalion 4 responding with Water Supply Engine-54 as the Water Supply Company Water Supply Task Force Companies will acknowledge the Task Force Leader (BFC) on A-13. Any WSE on the initial assignment will stay alert for the WS Task force being assigned and then operate on A-13. When arriving on Scene Status I-mobile (arrived) and stage 2 blocks away to allow access to the 3rd and 4th due Engine Companys position, or the Engines on the outskirt of the incident. Doing so will allow greater flexibility to supply the incident while at the same time not becoming trapped within the incident. While in staging the following should accomplished; Identify a water source ideally greater than 1,500 gpm in the area. This can be accomplished in several ways: Initially by contacting the Fire Liaison Officer on Channel C-16 and requesting assistance in locating a high flow Hydrant connection or by utilizing the Google Earth on the MDC.

In identifying a water source, obtain the closest High Flow hydrant connection (check available flow rates on hydrants, select those greater than 1,000 gpms , yellow or Blue marked hydrant) and note the distance, ideally within 1,000 ft or roughly 2 city blocks but not more than the hose bed capacity (1,500ft.).

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When the Incident is declared a Working Fire by the IC. The WSE, WSEC or WS Task Force will move to the position of the 3rd or 4th due Engine (or closest Engine on the outer perimeter of the incident) and position to reverse lay from the Fire Ground to the selected water supply that was pre-selected while in staging. Whenever a reverse layout is not practicable due to incident geography, Hydrant to Fire layout will be utilized, consider placement of apparatus. Proceed in laying out LDH to the selected water source. Whenever laying out LDH, proceed slowly and stay to the side of the roadway as much as possible so to not obstruct future access to the fire ground. Remember, the WSE LDH hose bed is configured to allow the most efficient layout. When operating as a WSEC, the wagon will stay with the WSE to assist with the layout and complete the relay or heavy hook up. If the WSE is operating with Driver only, be aware that 1,000 ft. will cover a distance of approximately 2 city blocks. This may not apply consistently in all of the areas of the city so the WSE Driver may need to request assistance, if available. The WSE, WSEC or WS Task Force will converse with the Officer or Driver of the Wagon being supplied and note the desired flow for the fire ground. If the layout of 5 LDH is over 1,500 ft.: The WSE will request an additional (WSE, WSEC) to assist in completing the layout. The ( 1,500 ft. for 5) distance is ideal for pump capacity but if the distance is greater than 1,500 ft, complete the layout with a relay of additional WSE, WSEC or the WS Task Force to build on the existing configuration. Engines with 3 hose should only be used for completing layouts of a short distance, this will impact the amount of water that can be delivered. Utilizing 5 LDH allows a minimal flow of 1000 GPMs depending on the source. Flow can be adjusted up or down as required. Note: all layout configurations will be calculated as to the size of hose, distance and GPM needed.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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Hook up to Hydrant Before hooking up to the hydrant, open the hydrant to quickly flush air and debris. This will also confirm proper operation of the hydrant. When positioning apparatus, utilize the right side Steamer intake with LDH connected to the steamer connection on the hydrant, and the front and rear intakes of the apparatus connected to the 2-1/2 hydrant connections, utilizing in-line gate valves and LDH. This type of initial hook up, called a Heavy Hook Up, will allow the full potential of the hydrant to be used by allowing a direct path for the water to enter the pump on right side steamer connection. After connecting to the hydrant, as noted above, complete the connection of the LDH to the LDH Discharge on the Right side pump panel. Avoid connecting any LDH to the pump panel (left side) for safety concerns. Open the hydrant and note the Static pressure. You will use this once you have determined the flow in the LDH in calculating the hydrant capacity.

Supplying Water through LDH Assure all hoses, intakes and discharges are connected and secured. Operate the Electronic Fire Commander (or similar device) in the Pressure mode which provides cavitation protection for the pump. Set the transfer valve (two stage pumps) in the VOLUME position Acknowledge to Operations that you are in position and prepared to supply water to the Incident through LDH. E-54 (WS Task Force leader or Logistic Chief) to Operations water Supply is hooked up and waiting for orders. This notification will be made by the Engine at the source (hydrant) and acknowledged by the Section Chief. When ordered, begin filling the LDH with Hydrant pressure only. Once your intake gauge returns to the original Static pressure, place the pumps in gear and supply the LDH at the proper pressure. At this point, if the layout is a very long distance or extreme grade, you may need to slowly apply additional pressure to completely fill the LDH. The operator of the Portable Hydrant should bleed air from the LDH prior to sending water from the portable hydrant, (this is done by cracking one of the 2-1/2 openings ).

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Hydrant capacity After a constant flow on the fire ground is established (such as a ladder pipe or wagon pipe), the residual pressure on the intake gauge will be noted to calculate the hydrant capacity. Note the drop from the static pressure and calculate the percentage drop. Less than 10% you will have 3 times the current flow available at that hydrant 11% to 15% you will have 2 times the current flow available 16% to 25% you will have 1 times the current flow available Greater than 25% an amount less than the current flow is available Continuing Operations The WSE Driver will remain at the pump panel, monitor the pumps and observe the following for changes and make corrections if needed. Intake pressure- Maintain no less than 20 psi. (anything less than 20 psi may cause damage to the water mains) Discharge pressure- Calculate to allow 20 psi at the portable hydrant, plus friction loss and elevation differences. If relaying water, figure 20 psi at the next pump the WS relay. Maintain Flow- Ensure a constant flow is maintained in the relay to prevent pump damage and the overheating of the pumps in the relay. Considerations Whenever establishing a water supply relay, the pump operators and responsible Officers need to consider the potential expansion of the operation due to increase in demand for water on the fireground and the time period of the operation. Consider adding additional lines to the relay to fully utilize the available water at the source. Monitor the mechanical operations of the apparatus, fuel, engine temperature, water discharge in relation to freezing temperatures, and safely operating in the roadways.

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