Operating Fire Pumps

1
Operating Fire Pumps

• Chapter 11
• Mississippi Fire Academy
• Certification Division

2
Three Sources of Water Supply

• Tank Water
• Pressurized source
• Static Source

3
Making the Pump Operationalbegins with

• Positioning the apparatus
• Setting the parking brake
• Wheels are chocked

4
Engaging PTO Front Mount PumpsPump Roll

• Come to a stop
• Place transmission in neutral
• Operate PTO
• Place transmission into proper gear
• Release brake and/or clutch

5
Engaging PTO Front Mount Pumps(Stationary Pump)

• Come to a full stop set parking brake
• Place transmission into neutral
• Operate PTO
• Place transmission into proper gear
• Check Owners Manual

6
Disengaging PTO and Front Mount Pumps

• Reduce engine speed to idle
• Disengage clutch or place transmission in
  neutral
• Operate PTO to disengage pump

7
Engaging Midship Pumps

• Stop vehicle, put transmission in neutral, set
  parking brake
• Engage power transfer device
• Place transmission into proper gear
• Check owners manual
• Check pump transfer light and speedometer

8
Disengaging Midship Pumps

• Reduce engine
• Place transmission in neutral
• Watch speedometer go to zero
• Operate pump shift lever

9
Auxiliary Engine Pumps

• Designed to be in gear when started

10
Operating from the Water Tank

• Most fires may be extinguished from this source.

11
Putting the Pump into Operations

• Safely exit
• Chock Wheels
• Opens tank-to-pump
• Place pump in parallel or series (two stage pump
  only)
• Open discharge slowly
• Increase engine speed
• Set relief valve

12
Transition to External Water Supply

• Usually involves a pressurized source such as a
  hydrant or relay.

13
Making the Transition

• Position the apparatus
• Place transmission in neutral
• Operate shift lever to pump gear
• Put transmission into proper gear
• Exit the vehicle

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Making the Transition(continued)

• Chock the wheels
• Open tank to pump
• Place pump to pressure or volume
• Open discharge slowly
• Increase RPM

15
Making the Transition (continued)

• Set relief valve
• Connect supply line
• Open hydrant Open intake valve
• Crack tank refill

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Operating from a Pressurized Source

• Two sources
• 1. Hydrant
• 2. In Relay

17
Hydrant Operations

• Determine which hydrant is most appropriate
• Closet
• Safest
• Most water

18
Making a Forward Lay

• Drop line and proceed to the fire
• Make connections

19
Reverse Lay

• Used when the apparatus must stay at the source
• Requires 2½ or larger line
• Disadvantage-all equipment must be removed

20
Getting the Water Into the Pump

• Open bleeder valve to bleed air
• Open hydrant
• Close bleeder valve
• Open intake
• Take static reading

21
Getting the Water Into the Pump (continued)

• Close tank-to-pump valve slowly
• Open discharge
• Operate throttle
• Set relief valve
• Watch gauges

22
Putting the Pump in Service

• Avoid dry running
• Pull booster line
• Crack tank fill
• Open auxiliary cooler

23
Shutting Down the Hydrant

• Throttle down
• Disengage pressure governor
• Close discharges
• Place transmission in neutral
• Close hydrant

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Operating from a Static Water Supply

• Pulling water is Impossible
• Atmospheric pressure is 14.7 at sea level
• Friction loss is dependant on
• Size of hose
• Distance
• Height of lift
• Maximum vacuum most pumps develop is 22 inches

25
Selecting a Drafting Site

• Dictated by
• Amount of water
• Type of water
• Accessibility of water

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Amount of Water

• Most important factor
• Use strainer

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Type of Water

• Non-potable Water is harmful
• Salt water corrodes
• Dirt or sand is bad stuff

28
Accessibility

• Lift and Friction loss factors to consider
• Pump capacity decreases with more lift
• The higher the lift, the less that can be pumped

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Connecting to the Pump

• Position Apparatus
• Less than 20 ft of lift
• Stop short of draft sight
• Make connections
• Move pumper into position

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Priming

• Engage pump
• Increase RPM
• Open discharge
• Operate changeover valve if applicable
• Increase rpm to proper setting
• Set relief valve or governor

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Operating the Pump from Draft

• Most demanding
• Overheating may occur
• Problems to look for
• Air leaks
• Whirlpools
• Defective pump packing
• Blocked strainer

32
Shutting Down the Operation

• Decrease engine speed
• Take pump out of gear and allow to drain
• Operate primer to lubricate

33
Sprinkler Standpipe Support

• Driver/Operator provides adequate water and
  pressure.

34
Supporting Automatic Sprinkler Systems

• Consider pre-incident plans
• Consists of 2 x 2½ or 1 large diameter intake
• Use at least 2 x 2½ inch or 1 LDH to supply
• Consult SOPs
• Rule of thumb
• 1,000 gpm pumper for every 50 heads
• Pump in volume on Multi-stage pumps

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Supporting Standpipe Systems

• Supply in same manner as sprinkler systems
• Discharge depends
• Friction loss (25psi)
• Friction loss in supply hose
• Friction loss in attack lines
• Max 200 psi
• Elevation

36
Thanks To

• Kosciusko Fire Department
• Flowood Fire Department