Safety, Incident Management, and Communications
Command and site control
Water shuttle operations run under the incident command system. A water shuttle officer manages fill sites, dump sites, tenders, and the tactical channel. Assign fill-site and dump-site supervisors, establish one-way traffic patterns, and keep responders in high-visibility vests. Maintain accountability for every apparatus and crew, and keep a clear emergency route for ambulances and additional apparatus.
Communications
Use a dedicated tactical channel for shuttle traffic when available, and keep the fireground channel clear for fire attack and emergency traffic. Reports should be short and standard: tender number, location, tank status, and intended action. Announce pressure changes in relay operations and report loss of prime or a blocked dump valve immediately. Use plain language; avoid codes that other responding agencies may not understand.
Worked example
Six tenders, two fill sites, and a dump site all transmit on the fireground channel. Fire attack reports go unheard. Correct reasoning: move shuttle traffic to a separate tactical channel, assign a water shuttle officer to control it, and require only essential status reports. The fireground channel then carries fire attack, mayday, and command traffic.
Traps
Do not let shuttle traffic overload the fireground channel. Do not allow freelancing at fill or dump sites. Do not back apparatus without a spotter. Do not ignore carbon monoxide, heat stress, noise, or slip hazards around open water and hose.