Like many communities in the Midwest and across America, Miami Township, Ohio, is a mix of rural and suburban growth. Because of the large geographic area and the mixed-use occupancies, the Miami Township Division of Fire and EMS is equipped to handle rural and suburban firefighting operations. Since the large agricultural areas are not protected by a water system, rural water operations are necessary. As with many agencies, our division wasn’t and isn’t accustomed to conducting rural water operations on a regular basis because the fire experience in those rural areas is minimal. In addition, the department lacked water tankers and relied on mutual aid and automatic response for water tankers for rural water movement.
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As a result, the division developed a Long Lane Marking System that identified those properties that, if on fire, would necessitate a long hose lay to supply water to an attack pumper. This system, still in use today, proved to be a valuable and economical solution in assisting firefighters in determining the number of apparatus needed to relay water and the length of hose needed to accomplish the task.
HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS
Although relatively simple and cost-efficient, the Long Lane Marking System provides a visual indicator that is easily interpreted by even the newest firefighter or engine operator.
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The system consists of a two-inch white section of PVC pipe with reflective bands around the top of the pipe (photo 1). The typical height of the marker is 48 inches and depends on vegetation and other obstacles. Each reflective band represents a 1,000-foot increment of the distance to the structure. A distance above a 1,000-foot increment is indicated by an additional band. As an example, a structure set back from the main roadway a distance of 2,500 feet would be marked at the entrance to the lane by a two-inch white section of PVC pipe with three reflective bands (photo 2). An additional two-inch white section of PVC pipe with two reflective bands would be placed 1,000 feet from the roadway (photo 3), and another two-inch white section of PVC pipe with one reflective band would be placed 500 feet from the structure (photo 4).
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The system depends on personnel knowing their response districts and the development of preplans for response areas. Personnel measure long lanes and properly place the appropriate number of markers. In addition, departments must work with their communications centers and area departments to build automatic- or mutual-aid response to ensure that adequate apparatus respond so that enough water is delivered.
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We use the following procedures in establishing the Long Lane Marking System. A marker with three bands is used for a lane that is at least 2,000 feet but less than 3,000 feet.
1. The first-due engine responds to the structure on fire. That enables the first-arriving crew to begin initial suppression activities using tank water and/or search and rescue activities.
2. The second-due engine proceeds to the marker with one band, indicating that the distance between the mark to the structure is equal to or less than 1,000 feet, and completes a forward lay to the attack engine.
3. The third-due engine begins its forward lay from the marker with two bands to the marker with one band.
4. The fourth-due engine begins its forward lay from the marker with three bands to the marker with two bands.
5. At this point, an engine is set up for drafting from portable ponds or for tender operations from tankers using water shuttles.
The process can be modified by using reverse lays from the structure to the water source and by eliminating the engine closest to the attack engine. However, we have reasons for using this procedure.
First and foremost is that reverse lays are complicated by narrow lanes and lack of areas for apparatus to turn around close to the structure. Backing apparatus down long lanes for the benefit of reverse lays is slow, tedious, and unsafe. It also necessitates that the hose be laid so that it does not clog the lane for other apparatus.
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Photo 5 shows a one-story church with a small asphalt parking lot and a gravel drive (photo 6). A forward lay would merely complicate the ingress and egress of emergency apparatus.
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Second, using two engines close to the structure enables the division to have two independent pumping sources for backup lines and a reserve apparatus should the initial attack engine fail (Figure 1).
MAINTENANCE
The markers are checked and repaired during the annual hydrant inspection each company completes within its response district. In addition, markers are added to new long lanes during the construction of new structures.
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The department maintains a database of all structures marked with Long Lane Markers and has built this system into our Communications Center computer-aided dispatch system. Units are notified on dispatch that the structure is marked by the Long Lane Markers, which triggers the response of additional units to ensure that adequate engines and tankers respond.
This system has proven valuable in helping us to initiate rural water operations. ■
DAVID B. FULMER is chief of the Miami Township (OH) Division of Fire and EMS. He previously served as chief with the Fitchburg (WI) Fire Department, assistant chief with the Village of Savoy (IL) Fire Department, and assistant fire service education specialist with the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and a designated chief fire officer. Fulmer has an associate degree in fire protection technologies, a bachelor’s degree in technical education from the University of Akron, and a master’s in public administration from Governors State University. He also serves as a principal member of the NFPA 1021 committee.
