Volunteer Firefighting: Learning Pumping Operations for Water Supply Strategy

(Illustrative Only)

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 Firefighting provides a critical benefit to both the community and those who serve. Across the nation, departments rely heavily on volunteer and part-time firefighters, making it essential for them to continuously update their knowledge and skills to remain effective when called upon. Because they often lack the advantage that FT firefighters have of consistent, concentrated training, their development typically involves a combination of self-directed learning, classroom and group-based practice.

Training videos like this help break down complex scenarios so firefighters can rehearse different approaches and strategies. With a solid understanding of engines, equipment, hoses, and couplings, individuals can build on that foundation by studying strategies for fire attack set up. Connecting hands-on department training with broader lessons from videos or classes creates a more adaptable and well-rounded skill set that can be refined over time.

There are also a few key formulas worth committing to memory, as they are essential for pump operations and system layout:

• Pumpers Needed = Relay Distance / Max Distance (Using 900) + 1
• Total Pressure Loss = Total Friction Loss ± Elevation Loss/Gain + 20 PSI

We also discussed strategies for relaying water at larger fires, such as using a relay pumper to supply hose lines for containment while directing excess capacity to a ladder for direct fire attack. The approach ultimately depends on how much water the attack pumper can access. In some cases, multiple pumpers can feed a ladder, allowing for a broader containment pumper line and more effective water stream from multiple sources.

Overall, this is a strong and informative video. While one department is based in California and the other in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, they apply fundamentally the same principles. If you’re interested in supporting a UP fire department with equipment, training, or other needs, feel free to reach out—we’re actively working to recruit and develop the next generation of firefighters.