Running out of water at a large fire is one of a fireman's worst fears. Choctaw County volunteer firemen learned how to shuttle water various ways to make sure running out of water doesn't happen.
Last week volunteer firemen from Ackerman, Bywy, Reform, Union and Weir Volunteer Fire Departments underwent the Rural Firefighting Water Supply Challenge training course.
Two of the main things learned in the challenge were how to draft water and shuttle water to one central location.
Mike Towne, a full-time Louisville firefighter and an associate instructor for Mississippi Fire Academy, taught the class and stressed the importance of never running out of water at a fire.
He said the top three things to firefighting in a county is number one-fight the fire, number two-save water and number three-have water coming in.
Towne said drafting water is different than other water refill methods.
"Drafting water is a whole different ball game," said Towne.
He said in a city, firefighters don't have to worry about drafting because they have fire hydrants.
"In the city you don't have to worry about running out of water because you have hydrants," said Towne.
In rural areas, such as Choctaw County, firefighters depend on the portable tanks, such as their pumper-tanker fire trucks.
Basically, drafting water is using a hose to draft water from a portable water source into the fire truck then pumping out by a fire hose.
He said it is vital to not spill or waste water.
During the water supply challenge, Choctaw County firefighters dumped water into a portable fire tank, drafted water into a fire truck then pumped the water out by a fire hose.
Towne said when drafting water, fire departments rely on their backup to bring more water.
"They rely on backup to get more water. A truck dumps water then goes back for more water," said Towne.
He said another part of the challenge is for a backup fire department to always be ready to respond to their call.
"Big challenge for firefighters is to bring water for backup and be ready in case their tone goes off," said Towne.
He also said its important for fire trucks to move in a circular route, during a water shuttle, so they don't run into each other.
Identifying the water relay, routes and water sites is also vitally important during a water shuttle, according to Towne.
He said doing this takes several trucks and a lot of manpower.
Key manpower positions in a water shuttle include the attack pumper operator, firemen fighting the fire, a driver for each additional fire truck with pump operators, a fireman to hook up the drafting hoses and a fireman to guide the trucks to the water source.
Towne said every firefighter should know how to draft and shuttle water.
"You have to have this to be a good firefighter," said Towne.
Learning how to shuttle water is important for everyday firefighting but also important in fire rating tests.
"Everything done this week, they do in rating tests, just under more pressure," said Towne.
Steve Montgomery, Choctaw County volunteer fire coordinator, said the county has been preparing for the fire rating tests.
"We have been ordering trucks with this valve in it since 2000 to get ready," said Montgomery about the fire rating tests.
"If we bust our butts maybe next summer get rated," he said.
Towne said that people in the community could help their local volunteer fire departments prepare for water shuttling by allowing them to use their ponds or lakes.
"If people in the county have a strong lake or pond they could contact their local volunteer fire department to use as a source of water," said Towne.
He also wants to encourage people to support their local volunteer fire departments.
"They are doing this job for nothing. Public should know they are out here at night on their own time learning how to do this to come save their house," said Towne.
The Choctaw County volunteer firemen would like to thank Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church for allowing them to use their parking lot for this training course.
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