This past weekend, the North Madison Volunteer Fire Company and Madison Hose Company #1 participated in a Valley Shore Rural Water Supply Operations Seminar. Mark Davis of GBW Associates, LLC, along with the Valley Shore Mutual Aid Association coordinated the event, also known as Big Water Weekend. Activities consisted of both classroom and practical scenario operations.
Since North Madison’s entire district consists of underground water tanks, as well as a small portion of Madison Hose’s, this exercise was invaluable. Both departments benefited from a training opportunity working with other departments within the Valley Shore Mutual Aid Association. Participant towns with over 150 firefighters included Guilford, Madison, North Madison, Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook, Lyme, Old Lyme, Essex, Deep River, Chester, Haddam, Durham, Middlefield, and Killingworth.
The course focused on effectively shuttling water to fire scenes in areas where there are no fire hydrants, and all water must be obtained through lakes, ponds, and underground tanks. Fourteen tankers, numerous engines, and two ladder trucks worked together to establish a water source, shuttle water, and sustain a water flow of 1,600 gallons per minute for two hours. At peak performance 2,400 gpm was reached for about an hour. A total of 176,000 gallons of water was shuttled and pumped out. “This was the most efficient and successful drill conducted by Got Big Water Associates” said Mark Davis President of GBW Associates LLC.
The continued training of North Madison Volunteer Fire Company and Madison Hose Company #1 allows them to efficiently protect and serve the residents of Madison.
