BROOKE COUNTY, W.Va. — A recent rash of water main breaks and issues with infrastructure in some communities has gotten the attention of some area fire departments.
They’re making sure their backup procedures are in place in case of a situation where the water supply is disrupted.
“We’ve had in place for a fairly long time in Brooke County, we have the Brooke County Tanker Task Force, which I think there’s six or seven departments that run tankers,” Follansbee Fire Chief Larry Rea said.
“It’s a tone, automatic tone out all by itself. We’re requested, Brooke County dispatch tones them, and on average, 2,000 gallons they carry on each tanker.”
Part of the plan is to work with surrounding communities to ensure safety for the public.
“If it would be of such a magnitude of a fire, we can also go into the Jefferson County Tanker Task Force, which helps now that they have the new Wellsburg Bridge,” Rea said. “That’s an asset, too, because some of them from Jefferson County would come over through that bridge.”
Chief Carlo Capaldi explained Steubenville Fire’s way of handing things.
“We do have backup plans in these situations,” he said. “Our engines do have water tanks on them, ranging from 300-750 gallons of water. These can handle small fires, brush, trash, one room fires. For larger fires, the county does have a tanker task force we can call into action.”
Another important piece to these plans is inspections of fire hydrants.
“Usually, once a year, each hydrant will be touched and flushed and then guaranteed every 5 years they’ll be flow tested,” Rea said.