Irrigation Line Fire Hydrant

   / Irrigation Line Fire Hydrant #1  

anojones

Gold Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2004
Messages
399
Location
WA
Tractor
JD 3320
We have an irrigation well with buried 4" line and a few steel ground level 4" irrigation hydrants. There is a hydrant near the house that I would like to convert to a fire hydrant- essentially an above ground hydrant that could handle a standard fire hose. So, if there was a house fire, we could turn on the well pump and hook up a fire hose or attatch to a pumper truck. I'm not really familiar with the irrigation plumbing and have been searching the web, but haven't found an easy option- it would seem there would be one out there. Any ideas?
 
   / Irrigation Line Fire Hydrant #2  
In a fire conditioon, some water is better than no water. If you have a hookup, even for a hose, it can help top off the tank on an engine.

You know you have a four inch line. Find out how much water you can flow. You may be able to base this on what your pump can do.

Then take that info to your local fire station and talk to them. They could tell you what would be needed to supply an engine or water tender.

If you do not know how much water your system flows, the FD may be able to come out and put a pitot gauge on it. It is a common method of checking hydrant flow.

Also, verify that your pump will work if power is cut to the house. In a fire, you'll lose electricity. Even if it stays on, the FD may shut it off for the safety of those fighting the fires(water and electricity don't go togehter).

That would be a good place to start.
 
   / Irrigation Line Fire Hydrant #3  
Call the fire department and find out what type of threads they use on the fire hose. The connection will be no use to the FD if they can not connect to it. Also ask them what they want for the connection. No use going though all this trouble and they will not use it.

If you give me the size of the pump, gpm and psi and the distance from the pump to the house, I can give you a rough idea as to how much water you will have available. Flows of 150 gpm or less will be of little value to the FD. BUT some water is better then no water!
 
   / Irrigation Line Fire Hydrant #4  
Ditto the above, Ive taken a few firefighting courses including history of and many well known fire disasters were escalated due to different types of theads being used. I think now its pretty much just a handful but you need to know which one to have for sure.
 
   / Irrigation Line Fire Hydrant #6  
The engines I used to work on(E28,E228, WT28 out of Shingle Springs Calif) had a number of thread adapters in the Engineers compartment, even though compartment space was at a premium. You just never knew what you might find out there in the field.
 
   / Irrigation Line Fire Hydrant #7  
anojones,

How close to the house is this hydrant?

When you go talk to the fire department about the stuff already mentioned, check to see if they'll install it. A friend of mine has a fire hose connect on his pond. If I recall correctly, the fire department put it in. The condition was they can use it if/as need for other fires in the area.
 
   / Irrigation Line Fire Hydrant
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Thanks to all- I'll start by talking to my FD to see what they can offer. I'm sure I'll be able to put something together- but I will heed the advice of multiple thread types.
 

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