[Tagging] Fire hydrants vs suction_point

[Eric Christensen]

On 08/17/2017 08:50 AM, Moritz wrote:
> But "dry" hydrants are always connected to other water sources like
> ponds, wells, water_tanks.
> They are not isolated things on the field. So you have the "dry" hydrant
> which is next to a pond/lake/etc. and
> connected to it.

A dry hydrant is just a convenient drafting point for getting water in
rural areas.  Where I used to work as a firefighter we had designated
water sources that we could use to supply tankers in the event of a
fire.  Many times it would be dangerous to get too close to the edge of
a pond with the fire engine or would require more suction hose to reach
to water than we would usually carry on the engine.  In those areas we
would install these dry hydrants.  Hook up to them with a short piece of
hard suction hose, pull a draft, and flow water.

I would suggest marking designated water sources as that: water sources.
 If they have a dry hydrant then all the better and that should be
mapped to make it easier to locate (especially at night).  But dry
hydrant or not, a pond, lake, canal, etc, that is suitable for fire
water source operations should be mapped as such.

Of course such ponds, lakes, canals, should be designated by the local
authority.

--Eric