Rural ops
Rural water supply drill
A rural fireground water supply drill for tank duration, drafting setup, tender shuttle decisions, and relay considerations.
Drill plan
ObjectiveShow how quickly tank water runs out and why sustained water supply planning matters early.
Setup
- Engine has 750 gallons of tank water
- Attack line flowing 185 GPM
- Tender shuttle or draft site is available
- Students estimate time until tank reserve
Student taskStudents calculate tank time, then choose whether to establish draft, tender shuttle, relay, or hydrant supply.
Expected answer pathUsable tank gallons divided by current GPM gives time. Sustained operations need a water supply plan before tank water is gone.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to state nozzle pressure or required appliance/device pressure.
- Using GPM where PSI is needed, or PSI where GPM is needed.
- Adding elevation or appliance loss twice.
- Ignoring department SOPs, apparatus pump chart, or manufacturer data.
Instructor note: After the first answer, change one variable and repeat the calculation.
Print notes
This page is designed to print as a simple station drill handout. Use it with the calculator/tool link above to check student answers live.