You Make the Call...Drafting


This scenario was part of the basic pump operations proficiency exam in my current Department.

As apparatus operator at the scene of a fire the Incident Commander orders you to draft from a static source of water. Your hard suction line is in place and all valves are closed properly.

As you activate the primer motor, it fails.

Your engine is still in pump, 500 gallons of water, no mechanical issues other than the primer motor.
The IC is calling for water.
What do you do? You make the call.

Comments

FireCap5 said…
Backflush the suctionline with tank water, once it fills, immediately shut the tank to pump, and crank up the revs steadily to pick up prime.

If you practice this, you can become pretty proficient with it.
The Road Doctor said…
Ditto on Firecap5's answer...

We actually teach priming this way as to reduce the work the primer is required to do...
John said…
Another ditto...
Anonymous said…
Same here, Open the "TANK TO PUMP" valve and it will flood the cavity. with a slow increase in RPM's the system will flush the air and you will be having a Happy Officer. This actually goes pretty quick as Firecap5 said, and it is something every engineer should be good at and understand. If they don't understand this, they don't know their pump.
Capt. Tom
Ckemtp said…
We call it "Sliding the draft". Haven't done it in a while, but it's like riding a bike.
The Happy Medic said…
You would be amazed how many "Big City" folk never drafted.
My first paid spot we had 3 hydrants, one at the station, 1 at the casino and the third at the gas station. Everything else was drop tanks and shuttles.

Results on Monday.
Man, I have smart readers!
brendan said…
Friend of mine on the local "big city" department can count on one hand, two tops, the number of guys on his job who could pull a draft if you told them to right now.
Michael Morse said…
I registered for the draft when I turned 18 so don't go getting all big city don't know nothin about drafting on me!