(fire crackling)
(upbeat music)
(rushing water)
- Hello Dilly, that hose is looking pretty dirty,
when was it used last?
- Uh, I dunno. Hey, Danny, do you know?
- Uh, I think we were down on an assignment in Nevada.
Why does it matter?
- Well, earlier this year I was on assignment up in Montana
and after speaking with the resource advisor,
I learned that there's certain aquatic invasive species,
whether it's plants, animals, or pathogens
and they'll actually hitchhike their way
on our water supply.
- So what?
- So, once they get established in different water sources,
they can actually ruin the entire ecosystem there.
Not only that, they can also ruin any chances
of recreational activities like
swimming, boating, and fishing.
There's even quagga and zebra mussels
that can clog water pipes,
ruining irrigation systems and hydropower.
- Oh, that makes sense cause,
growing up we used to go fishing and boating
at the local lake with my family
and we can't do that anymore because,
it got so gunked up with watermilfoil so,
it's kind of a bummer.
(dramatic orchestral music)
- [Resource Advisor] Aquatic invasive species
or AIS are harmful, non-native plants,
animals and microorganisms living in aquatic habitats,
that damage or threaten commercial, agricultural,
and recreational activities.
AIS can be transported via firefighting equipment
that contacts or transports untreated water.
Such as portable pumps, drafting hardware
and the internal tanks of engines and water tenders.
Avoidance and decontamination can prevent the spread
of these organisms.
(intense orchestral music)
- That's terrible.
I've heard about invasive mussels
spreading around the country.
Is there anything we can do to remove them?
- You know, that resource advisor was talking about how,
once they're introduced, they're almost impossible
to eradicate from that water source.
It's pretty easy to see how long-lasting
those impacts are.
- I had no idea aquatic invasive species
were such a problem.
It sounds like we have to do our part
to prevent the spread in the first place.
How to fire operations spread aquatic invasive species?
- [Resource Advisor] Draft hoses and foot valves can spread
aquatic invasive plants, animals, and pathogens
from one drafting source to another.
It only takes one Eurasian Watermilfoil fragment
to start an invasion.
Here, you can see simulated milfoil being transferred
from a dirty foot valve to a clean,
uninfested water body.
Before moving to a new water source,
external and internal surfaces of
the drafting hose and foot valve must be decontaminated
using one of three methods.
The first decontamination method, is hot power washing.
All surfaces must be sprayed with water
from a heated pressure washer for at least two minutes
at a temperature of 140 degrees fahrenheit or higher.
The second decontamination method, is sun drying
which is very effective after mud or plant matter
is removed from draft hoses and foot valves.
Lay drafting hoses and foot valves
out to dry in the hot sun.
The gear should dry until completely dry to the touch.
Chemical decontamination is the third method
if other options aren't available,
the drafting hose and foot valve may be coiled
and submerged in a bucket filled with disinfectant.
Items should be allowed to soak for 10 minutes.
The items may also be decontaminated
by spray application of disinfectant
with a backpack pump or spray bottle.
Spray each surface for 5 seconds
and let stand for 10 minutes.
Items that have been soaked in
or sprayed with chemical solution
must be rinsed with clean water
before storage or return to service.
Chemical disinfectants such as bleach
and quaternary ammonium compounds,
though effective, can be hazardous, corrosive,
and difficult to dispose of.
Make sure you use the concentrations recommended
in the Guidance, and only household amounts,
a few gallons.
Otherwise, the solution is hard to dispose of.
Always consult the product label
to determine appropriate PPE and procedures
for proper chemical use and disposal.
Always carry a spare draft hose that is clean and dry.
This way you can clean used gear later
when you have time.
You may choose to tie flagging around draft hoses
that need to be decontaminated,
but it should be marked to indicate a need for cleaning
as opposed to repair.
AIS can survive in the residual water
of fire engine and water tender tanks for days.
These organisms can be inadvertently introduced
into a clean body of water if tank water is used
to prime pumps and foot valves are not operational.
Here, we can see simulated AIS infected dyed tank water
leaking through a defective foot valve.
Always prime the pump with water from the drafting source.
Do not use water from the potentially infected engine tank.
If you prime from source water, there is no need to
ever clean any internal engine or tender tank,
provided your foot valve is operating properly.
Fill the drafting hose from a bucket of water
from your source, then start the pump.
Additionally, don't leave the draft hose full
with foot valve engaged and submerged
in a water source when not pumping.
As extra protection against tank leakage,
screw foot valves snugly onto draft hoses
to ensure they are fully sealed.
Rest the foot valve on a shovel head
before placing it in the water source
for sediment-free operation.
This reduces potential potential for sucking up AIS.
AIS surviving in the residual water of engine
and tender tanks can be unintentionally introduced
to a clean lake, river, or stream
by allowing tank water to overflow into the drafting source.
Care should be taken to prevent overfilling
and driving away on steep inclines,
as this can have the same result.
Don't overfill your engine tank.
Have a crew member monitor how full your tank is
to prevent overfilling or spilling when you pull away
from a drafting source.
- Okay, you can cut it!
- Stopping!
- Portable pumps and drafting equipment
can also transfer AIS to clean bodies
through a dirty draft hose and foot valve.
Or through residual water within the pump
leaking out through a defective foot valve.
(rushing water)
Use a single pump to top fill multiple engines and tenders.
This reduces the amount of drafting gear
potentially exposed to AIS.
When using portable pumps, be sure to test the foot valve
to ensure it is not leaking
and make sure it is fully tightened.
Remove drain plugs from portable pumps to empty water
from the pump housing before moving to a new water source.
On the fire line, don't apply engine water where it can
enter a lake, river, stream, or wetland.
If you follow this rule, there's no need to decontaminate
fire line hoses, nozzles, or valves.
If there is a need to apply water to a fire in a riparian
or streamside area, be sure to use water from
that water body if possible.
- Wow, I can't believe fire operations are at such
a high risk of spreading aquatic invasive species.
- Yeah, it's interesting to find out the effects
of irresponsible water handling are much more devastating
than wildfires themselves.
- The good news is, there's measure we can take
to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species.
We just have to put them into practice and spread the word.
- [Resource Advisor] The Guide to Preventing
Aquatic Invasive Species Transport
by Wildland Fire Operations is available to help
wildland firefighters avoid the spread of AIS.
It describes best management practices
to prevent contact with and spread of invasive species
and best procedures for decontaminating equipment.
Many of which you have just seen demonstrated.
An electronic version of the guide can be found
on the NWCG publications website for easy reference.
Please visit the invasive species subcommittees website
for equipment bulletins, tech tips,
and updated guidance and resources.