Hampton Twp. FD says firefighter was thrown after portable hydrant exploded.
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The pictures and information below are from Deputy Chief Bruce Cole of the Hampton Township Fire Department in Sussex County, New Jersey:
On 7-27-09 the Hampton Twp Fire Dept in Sussex County, NJ, was conducting a training exercise. The drill involved 3 tankers and 2 pumpers. It was to be a water shuttle exercise. Eng 48-62 was set up as the hole pumper at the draft site to fill the water tankers. There was 100' of 5" LDH from 48-62 to the portable hydrant, (The hydrant was a Snap Tite water Thief/Manifold,with 5" LDH intake and 4 2-1/2" discharges).
We were using two (2) of the 4 discharges with 100' of 2 1/2" hose from each discharge. The flow rate was 125psi. The order was given for the hydrant to be shut down as the tanker was full. The fire fighter controlling the hydrant began the process of a slow shut down and the pump operator on Engine 48-62 began to reduce his pressure. As the Hampton Twp fire fighter was leaning over the control valves shutting down, for undetermined reasons the portable hydrant exploded. The force of the explosion threw the fire fighter into the air, Her boots were found approximately 50' from were she landed and 25' apart from each other her helmet landed next to one of her boots. Hampton Twp EMS, which was on scene for the drill, started 1st aid procedures and the fire fighter was airlifted to a trauma center.
Chief Cole adds that the firefighter in Monday's incident was treated and released.
You may recall a similar incident in Lambertville, New Jersey on March 28. You can find Snap-tite's report on that incident here. We have emailed and phoned Snap-tite officials and will pass along any comments they provide.
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