MASTERING YOUR INTAKE GAUGE
Every elite Driver-Engineer has mastered his/her Intake gauge. This is THE most important gauge on the pump panel.
Why?
Simply put, once you learn how to read this gauge, you know how much water, in terms of GPM you have/can flow. This plays it out in several ways...
You're the first arriving engine... once you have your permanent supply, you notice that you have a 50% reduction in residual pressure (on your Intake Gauge) after supplying the first two attack lines. You're fighting a large apartment fire and immediately notify the IC that we will need a second hydrant asap.
Now you're an asset to that BC and his future decision-making.
Another scenario... You are pumping at a large-scale fire, and the IC radios you to supply a Blitz Fire on the Bravo side of the building. Do you have enough water to supply this along with the multiple attack lines you already are flowing? The only way you would REALLY KNOW is if you have been reading your Intake Gauge throughout the fire.
Again... now you're an asset, especially when you tell that BC you can't supply the Blitz Fire until you secure a secondary supply line. Problem solver!
How?
There are two ways Elite Drivers read their Intake Gauge.
"Hash The Intake"
Although there are better methods than this, it does get us exceptionally close. This is more of a "down and dirty" method many old-school drivers use.
You start by reading your Static Pressure off the hydrant. When younger members learn this, they will use a dry-erase marker and mark a hash over the incoming pressure, hence the name.
Once you have a line in play, you need to note the drop is Residual Pressure.
Now, if you know that you're crosslay is flowing 150 GPM (because you've trained long before the bell hit) and have a five psi drop in pressure on your Intake Gauge, you know that (roughly) every 150 GPM you deploy is going to cost you 5psi.
Limit On Mains / Percentage Method
Rather than reinvent the wheel, I'm going to link up to a great article on FireRescue1.com. This takes a bit more fire ground math, but the payoff is a more accurate picture of what that hydrant can actually supply you with.
🚨 DISCLAIMER: Dallas Fire-Rescue does not endorse or promote these videos. The information herein is my best understanding of the material covered and the subsequent views expressed are my own and not necessarily those DFR. These videos are strictly for educational purposes only. It is critical that you follow your department's MOP/SOP, and talk with your Station Officer (and crew) before implementing anything you see here on The Roll Steady.
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PUMP SCHOOL W/ RICK BREWER
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