Water Shuttle Operations
Topic: Water Shuttle Operations Teaching and Learning Domain: Cognitive Time Required: 2 hours Materials: Appropriate visuals and chalkboard or easel pad References: IFSTA Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator (1st ed.), Chapter 14...
4. Filling tanker through top with portable fill device or open hose butt not recommended due to
reaction of hoseline
E. Operating Fill Site
1. Once fill site pumper connected to water supply source and appropriate hose and equipment laid
out, fill site operations may begin
a. Recommended that fill site pumper remain in gear with tanker fill lines charged at all times
b. Booster line or dump line be flowed to prevent loss of prime or pump overheating
2. Firefighter assigned to handle each tanker fill line laid out
a. Firefighters referred to as make and break personnel
b. Primary responsibilities to make fill connection when tanker arrives and disconnect hose(s)
when tank full
c. Personnel remain with lines until other firefighters replace them
3. When tanker reaches fill site, driver should cautiously pull into filling position until driver’s door
parallel to traffic cone laid out as stop marker
a. Make and break personnel should be off to side of fill site as apparatus approaches
b. When apparatus comes to complete stop, make and break personnel connect fill hose(s) to
direct tank fill intake(s)
c. Once hose connected, intake valve(s) opened
d. Make and break personnel return to gate valve(s) or manifold on fill hose(s) and slowly open
valve(s) to start water flowing
e. Remain at gate valve or manifold until tanker full
4. While filling taking place, tanker driver should remain in cab of apparatus
a. Ensure that apparatus immediately driven away once tank full and hose connections broken
b. Any tankers that arrive in area of fill site while tanker being filled should stage safe distance
back
c. As tanker driver sees first tanker leaving fill site area, next one in line may cautiously proceed
into fill spot
5. If fill site has sufficient room, second set of fill lines laid from fill site pumper for second tanker
a. While one tanker being filled, second tanker pulled into position and connected to fill lines
b. When first tanker full and lines shut down, lines to second tanker opened to begin immediate
filling
c. When first tanker drives away from fill site, next tanker in line pulled into spot and readied to fill
d. Unless fill site pumper connected to high flow hydrant, not recommended that more than one
tanker be filled at same time
6. Once water tank completely full, make and break personnel should slowly close valve(s) on gate
valve or manifold
a. Should proceed to connection at direct tank fill inlet and operate bleeder valve to relieve
pressure on line(s)
b. Once pressure relieved, hoses disconnected and pulled off to side of fill site
c. Tankers should only move in and out of position when signaled by designated person
7. Make and break personnel or fill site officer should monitor ground conditions around fill site as
operations proceed
a. Inevitable that significant amount of water spilled in area
b. During freezing conditions, ice may form
c. If road not paved, may begin to become soft
d. May become necessary to adjust location of fill site for both operational and safety reasons
F. Shutting Down Fill Site
1. Previous procedure followed until IC determines water shuttle operation no longer necessary
a. Once decision made, fill site should remain in operation until all tankers participating in shuffle
refilled
b. Jurisdictions prefer to fill tankers before they return to quarters
