The heavily populated eastern hills of San Francisco Bay present significant
and complex fire protection problems. Wide area wildfires such as the
"Oakland Firestorm" of 1991 are an annual threat that can easily outstrip
local water supplies. A major earthquake has the potential to start fires
and at the same time disrupt water service infrastructure. To meet these
hazards, the Oakland Fire Department designed and built Portable Water Supply System
(PWSS) vehicles and placed them strategically around the city.
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The basic idea behind the PWSS was to provide a means to provide long lays of
large diameter hose with the added capability of being able to place portable hydrants at
appropriate intervals and providing sufficient hose bridges to maintain
emergency access into and egress from affected areas. Due to the steep terrain
in various parts of Oakland, a system capable of withstanding greater than
ordinary pressures was needed. (A mile long hose lay may undergo over 400 feet of elevation
difference generating nearly 200 psi over pump pressure due to head.) The PWSS
is the physical product of this concept and can be used to transport significant volumes
of water over long distances to emergency areas with disrupted water supplies.
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Side View
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Equipment carried includes:
- 1 mile of 5" hose w/ 4½" couplings
- 5) Portable hydrants (4½" x 3½" side outlets)
- 6) Gleeson valves
- 1) 4½" line gate
- 4) 3" to 4½" clapper siamese
- 12 sets LDH hose bridges
- Large capacity (6-inlet) deck pipe
- Assorted increasers, reducers & gender changers
- Assorted short hose "pigtails"
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Rear View
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