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Water Supply
Establish Your Emergency Water Supply
Water
supply is vital for a fire department to protect a threatened house or extinguishing
a burning one. Even a FireWise house may not be able to survive a wildfire
without an emergency water supply. Many local governments require new developments
to form or become part of a community or municipal water system. In these cases,
the designed water systems have large storage facilities that generally meet the
needs of firefighters.
Your Personal Emergency Water Supply
If
you live in a home that is separated from others you may not have access to an
adequate community water system. In this case, it is recommended that you develop
an individual well or water source that provides suitable storage and fire equipment
access. A minimum water storage supply of 2,500 gallons is recommended for use
in emergency situations. Cooperation with your neighbors can result in the development
of a common emergency water storage facility that can provide protection for your
home and several others.
As a last resort, you may need to develop your own well.
Access To Your Emergency Water Supply
Once
you have established an emergency water supply, you must make sure firefighters
can get to it. If your water comes from a well, it is recommended that you have
a gasoline-powered generator so firefighters can operate your pump during a power
failure.
For any emergency water supply, the outlet valve must be easily seen and visibly
signed from the nearest road. You can obtain specific outlet, valve design and
thread requirements by contacting your local fire department.
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