Georgia Drought Could Hurt Firefighters

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Georgia Drought Could Hurt Firefighters - Firehouse.com News

Georgia Drought Could Hurt Firefighters

JIM GALLOWAY; Staff
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine on Tuesday said firefighter training, sprinkler inspections and even how firefighters battle fires may need to change because of the drought.
Oxendine, who also is the state fire commissioner, spoke after meeting with nine of the top firefighting officials in the state.
The group is considering whether to position small fleets of tanker trucks capable of hauling anywhere between 1,000 to 5,000 gallons of water to hot spots. Oxendine said that if the situation gets worse firefighters may have to reconsider current tactics --- including whether to keep pouring water on buildings that are fully engulfed but contained.
Oxendine said he was preparing an executive order to allow regular inspections of sprinkler systems without flushing water through them. He said 6,000 gallons of water are needed to test the Georgia Dome sprinklers. Checking the mechanical operation of sprinkler heads and water pressure at hydrants could save 60 percent of that, he said.
Oxendine suggested some firefighter training could be moved to Forsyth, where a training facility doesn't fall under Level 4 water use restrictions.
Hall County fire Chief David Kimbrell, who sits on the board of the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, said he doesn't know of any Georgia fire officials who expect to run out of water in the next couple of months.
He suggested fire prevention could yield water savings and agreed with Oxendine that a state-imposed outdoor burning ban, which expired Oct. 1, should be extended. (Some local governments have imposed their own bans.)
But, he said, firefighters are wary of trying to conserve water while battling a blaze. "How can you be absolutely sure that no one is in there? How can we make a split-second decision that says the building is not saveable?"
Staff writer Matt Kempner contributed to this article.