When firefighting in rural areas, having an efficient water supply is crucial. One tactic that plays a pivotal role in overcoming the lack of a municipal water supply is the Rural Hitch. This method ensures a steady flow of water from tankers to the attack engine, allowing firefighters to focus on fire suppression without worrying about water supply interruptions.

The Rural Hitch is an advanced water supply tactic designed to streamline water delivery at rural fire scenes. By setting up a jumbo clapper Siamese and a system of dump tanks, this method allows for smooth transitions between tankers and continuous water supply to the fireground.

Setting Up the Rural Hitch

The key to a successful Rural Hitch is the use of a jumbo clapper Siamese. This appliance ensures that water is offloaded quickly from the tankers and delivered to the attack engine without disruption.

Initial Tanker Offloading

As the first tanker arrives on the scene, it offloads water using a 3-inch hose. The firefighter connects the hose to the clapper Siamese, and the water is transferred to the attack engine via the dump tanks.

Transitioning Between Tankers

When the first tanker runs low on water, the next arriving tanker begins offloading. The clapper valve seamlessly switches, ensuring that water continues to flow to the attack engine without any interruptions.

Scale up your operation to handle larger rural fires by adding folding tanks and jet siphons as equipment and manpower become available

Expanding the Dump Site

As more tankers arrive, it’s essential to expand the dump site to accommodate additional water. Adding folding frame tanks and transferring water between tanks using jet siphon strainers ensures that the primary dump tank remains filled.

Using Jet Siphons for Efficient Water Transfer

A jet siphon strainer uses Venturi physics to transfer water from one tank to another. This is a key element in expanding the dump site and maximizing water storage.

Maximizing Water Flow with the Rural Hitch

The Rural Hitch allows fire departments to achieve 500-600 gallons per minute of uninterrupted water flow, even in rural areas with limited resources. By incorporating additional folding tanks, this method can expand to supply up to 1500 gallons per minute, making it ideal for large-scale fires in remote locations.

Overcoming Challenges in Rural Firefighting

One of the key advantages of the Rural Hitch is its ability to keep water flowing smoothly, even when multiple tankers are in play. This technique prevents bottlenecks at the dump site and allows firefighters to focus on fire suppression.

Frequently Asked Questions About Burp Drafting

After-Action Review: Mastering the Rural Hitch for Rural Water Supply

One of the key advantages of the Rural Hitch is its ability to keep water flowing smoothly, even when multiple tankers are in play. This technique prevents bottlenecks at the dump site and allows firefighters to focus on fire suppression.

Tell us what you thought about this lesson!