Preface

INTENDED AUDIENCE.
Fire Apparatus Operator: Pumper, third edition, is a
straightforward, reader-friendly text designed for
firefighters who are aspiring to meet the professional
qualifications for vehicle driver/pump operator. It is
intended to be used for training in fire departments,
academies, and college fire programs. Although the
basic flow of the text is the same as in previous editions, the material in the third edition has been updated and expanded. In addition, a new full-color
design and several new features serve to enhance
the learning experience for the student. The most important aspect of this edition is that it addresses all of
the requirements identified in NFPA 1002, Chapters
4 and 5, 2009 edition, for driver/pump operator. In
addition, the text addresses the objectives listed in
the Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply
model curriculum course established at the National
Fire Academy’s Fire and Emergency Services Higher
Education (FESHE) conferences.
A Correlation Guide to the 2009 edition of NFPA
Standard 1002 and FESHE course outcomes follows
this Preface.
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS BOOK.
This book was written for several reasons. First, and
perhaps most important, it was written because I enjoy the subject matter. Of all the positions I have
held in the fire service, the most memorable and
enjoyable were those as a pump operator. Second,
it was written because the majority of books on the
subject are outdated. I have been teaching from the
same textbooks that I learned from when I took
classes at a community college some 15 years ago.
I’m not implying that these older texts are of poor
quality, rather that they are simply outdated. In fact,
their extended existence pays tribute to those who
wrote them. Granted, some concepts of pump operations have remained relatively unchanged over the
years, but pump operations, related standards, and
terminology have not been stagnant. Finally, it was
written because I wanted a single resource for relevant information on pump operations. When teaching pump operations, I found the“perfect”textbook
to be several existing texts combined with information I picked up during my career in the fire service.
So, this book attempts to place all of the information
needed to operate a pump efficiently and effectively
within the same cover.
—Dr. Thomas B. Sturtevant
OUR REVIEW AND VALIDATION
COMMITTEES.
Through the dedication of our authors, content and
technical reviewers, as well as our Fire Advisory
Board members and validation committee, the third
edition of Fire Apparatus Operator: Pumper continues
to remain up to date with the changing landscape of the
fire service world. As part of the development process,
each chapter is carefully reviewed by a select number
of practicing individuals in the fire service who offer
their expertise and insight as we revise the content.
Additionally, technical reviewers thoroughly check
the manuscript in detail for clarity and accuracy.
We are excited to announce that for the third edition of this book, we have created a validation committee to ensure that the content meets 100% of the
NFPA Standard 1002, Chapters 4 and 5. Learning objectives, which have been validated by this committee of subject-matter experts, are included at the
beginning of each chapter. The learning objectives
tie all components of the learning solution (e.g., text,
curriculum, test bank, supplements) to the NFPA standard, providing instructors and students a pathway to
meet the intent of the job performance requirements
outlined in the NFPA standard.
The Validation Process
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
professional qualifications standards identify the
minimum job performance requirements (JPRs) for
fire service positions. A JPR states the behaviors required to perform a specific skill(s) on the job. The
JPR statements must be converted into instructional
objectives with behaviors, conditions, and standards
that can be measured within the teaching/learning
environment.
Our process includes the development of the
learning objectives from the JPR by a subjectmatter expert. The learning objectives are then
reviewed and validated by a committee. The committee reviews the learning objectives to ensure that the
JPR was correctly interpreted and also makes recommendations for additional learning objectives within
our materials. Our authors are provided with the validated learning objectives to develop the materials.
This ensures that 100% of the standard is met within
our materials.
The learning objectives are used throughout the
entire development process. This includes the development of the book, curriculum, and the certification
test question banks. This process ensures consistency
among all materials and offers the best possible materials available on the market.
For a complete list of our review and validation
committee members, as well as other contributors to
this book, please refer to the Acknowledgments section of this Preface.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK.
The basic goal of this text is to provide one location
for the knowledge required to carry out the duties of
a pump operator efficiently and effectively. Therefore, the textbook includes all of the requirements
of NFPA 1002, Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications, 2009 edition, for drivers/
pump operators. Other relevant NFPA standards are
also introduced and discussed. In addition, the
textbook covers the objectives contained in the
FESHE’s Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply model core curriculum course. Because of this, the
textbook can be used for state or local pump operator
training and certification as well as in college-level
courses.
The position of pump operator is vital to the mission of the fire service. It is a position that requires
knowledge and skills gained from classroom lecture,
practical hands-on training, and experience. To that
end, the location of the training/education, whether it
be a fire department, state training agency, college, or
vocational school, doesn’t matter as much as the quality of information provided. Apparatus equipped with
pumps are expensive pieces of equipment that require
extensive knowledge and skills to operate them safely.
The text is divided into four sections:
■Section I serves as an introduction to the duties
and responsibilities of the pump operator and includes preventive maintenance and driving of
emergency vehicles.
■Section II focuses on the operating principles, theories, and construction of pumps as well as the
systems and components typically used in conjunction with fire pumps.
■Section III presents the three interrelated fire
pump operation tasks or activities of securing a
water supply, operating the pump, and maintaining discharge pressures. This section builds on the
foundation laid in the first two sections of the text
and provides basic, step-by-step procedures for
operating the pump and related components.
■Section IV focuses on water flow calculations, including hydraulic theory, friction loss principles,
and fireground pump discharge pressure calculations. This section brings to light the importance
of understanding the relationship between the
amount of water needed and the amount that is
actually flowing.
The purpose for dividing the text into the four
sections is to present like subjects together. For example, the first section focuses on the driver and
emergency apparatus. The theory, construction, and
operating principles of pumps and related components, for the most part, are all contained within
the second section. The operation of pumps and related components is primarily covered within the
third section of the text. Finally, most calculations
are contained within the fourth section. By structuring the book in this way, the text can easily be rearranged depending on the focus and preference of
the student and instructor.
NEW TO THIS EDITION.
It is our goal to continually strive to meet and exceed
expectations for firefighter training, as well as to remain current with standards, practices, and initiatives
in the fire service. For this reason, this book was
carefully reviewed and updated for the third edition
to include the following:
■Compliant with NPFA Standard 1002, 2009 Edition. Revised to meet the intent of the 2009 edition
of NFPA Standard 1002, including new learning
objectives validated by a committee of experts to
ensure 100% compliance with the standard.
■Additional Emphasis on Safety. Safety is emphasized throughout the book, including a special focus on driving safely during emergency response
in Chapter 3 and separate Safety boxes highlighted
throughout the chapters to instill a constant attention to safety.
■Full-color Design and New Features. With a new
8-1/2 x 11 design, this book features photographs
and line art in full color as well as new features to
enhance learning:
■Street Stories at the beginning of each chapter
relate actual experiences from drivers/operators
across the nation and highlight important lessons learned.
■Skills have been added with photographic stepby-step instructions for performing common
driver/operator tasks.
■StreetSmart tip boxes have been added to provide practical advice and applications for completing tasks in the field.
■
Metric equivalents accompany English/customary
units in mathematical examples and calculations
as well as in reference charts and tables.
■Key Terms are listed at the end of each chapter
and have been expanded to include many new
terms.
■Comprehensive and Current Information on Essential Topics. With this new edition, every effort
was made to ensure that students are thoroughly
introduced to the most current information on
pump operations, including:
■Expanded information on rural water supplies
and operations, including nurse feeding.
■Expanded information on annual performance
tests, including information on new tests now
required by NFPA 1911, such as the interlock
tests and intake relief valve tests.
■Expanded operator maintenance information,
including information on acceptable gauge
readings and recovery procedures for warning
conditions.
■Information on operating with newer vehicle
systems, such as auxiliary braking, anti-lock
braking, automatic traction control, and rollstability and enhanced roll-stability systems.
■Additional driving information, such as rollover
prevention and maneuvering through driver
skills courses.
■Information on newly approved equipment
types, such as air primers, along with tips on
the differences in using oil-less primers.
■Expanded information on priming, with emphasis on how to resolve priming problems quickly
and effectively.
■Expanded information on each of the primary
pump subsystems: intake manifold, discharge
manifold, pump casting, and pump transmission.
■Expanded information on foam systems, including CAFS.
■Expanded information on the NFPA 291 hydrant
coloring system.
■Expanded information on determining hydrant
capacity, including details of the first-digit method,
percentage method, and the squaring-the-lines
method of determining hydrant capacity.
■Expanded information on apparatus positioning, including rationales, so that operators can
make sound decisions in unique situations.
FEATURES OF THIS BOOK.
The following features serve to enhance learning and
help you gain competence and confidence in mastering fire pump operations.
NFPA 1002 and FESHE
Correlation Guides.
These grids provide a correlation between Fire
Apparatus Operator: Pumper and the requirements
for NFPA Standard 1002, 2009 edition, Chapters 4
and 5. A second grid provides the correlation to the
FESHE course curriculum for Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply.
Street Stories.
Each chapter opens with personal experiences contributed by drivers/operators from across the nation.
These personal accounts bring to life the chapter
contents that follow, and highlight important lessons
learned.
Validated Learning Objectives.
Each chapter includes a list of objectives. Satisfy
yourself that you have learned each objective so
that you are assured of gaining the appropriate competency for certification. Information that goes beyond the validation is identified in blue typeface.
Key Terms.
Throughout the text you will find key terms and
notes of particular importance. These important
items will provide you with the knowledge and terminology for effectively communicating with your
superiors, subordinates, and peers.
Note.
This feature highlights and outlines important points
for you to learn and understand. Based on key
concepts, this content is an excellent source for
review.
NOTE.
It is important to make sure that the units of volume
are the same as those given in the constant used for
density.
Safety.
These note boxes offer advice on how to react and,
more important, be proactive in protecting the safety
of yourself and your crew.
Caution.
These note boxes indicate a hazardous situation that,
if not avoided, could result in injury or alert against
unsafe practices that can result in property damage.
These tips offer practical advice for completing tasks
and succeeding in the duties of a driver/operator.
Skills.
Step-by-step photo sequences illustrating important
procedures are located at the end of the chapters.
These are intended to be used as a guide in mastering
the job performance skills and to serve as an important review.
Review Questions and
Practice Problems.
In addition to Review Questions, there are Practice
Problems integrated throughout the hydraulics sections, carefully testing your knowledge by building
on each concept presented in the book. Additional
practice problems can be found at the end of each
chapter, as well as a list of formulas at the end of
each water flow calculation chapter.
Additional Resources.
Each chapter includes a list of additional resources.
Each recommended listing offers additional information on the topic covered in that particular chapter.
The goal is to give you as much information as possible to help you in your duties as a driver/operator.
This information will help you better perform
your duties, not just to meet the requirements of
the standard, as important as that is. Whether you
are reading this book to improve your skills or taking
a structured program leading to certification, we
hope that you will find this book informative, interesting, and useful.
CURRICULUM PACKAGE.
This book was created not only as a stand-alone
manual for firefighters, drivers/operators, and fire
officers, but as a special package of materials for
the full instructional experience. The supplement
package provides a variety of tools for students and
instructors to enhance the learning experience.
Instructor’s Curriculum
CD-ROM.
The Instructor’s Curriculum CD-ROM is designed to
allow instructors to run programs according to the
standards set by the authority having jurisdiction
where the course is conducted. It contains the information necessary to conduct driver/operator courses.
It is divided into sections to facilitate its use for
training:
■Administration. Provides the instructor with an
overview of the various courses, student and instructor materials, and practical advice on how to
set up courses and run skill sessions.
■Equipment Checklist. Offers a quick guide for ensuring the necessary equipment is available for
hands-on training.
■Lesson Plans. Ideal for instructors, whether they
are teaching at fire departments, academies, or
longer-format courses, each Lesson Plan correlates
to the corresponding PowerPoint
®
Presentation.
■Answers to Review Questions. Include answers to
questions and problems in the book in order to
evaluate student learning.
■PowerPoint® Presentations. Outline key concepts
from each chapter, and contain graphics and
photos from the book, to bring the content to
life.
■Computerized Test Banks. Contain hundreds of
questions in ExamView 6.0 to help instructors
prepare candidates to take the written portion of
the certification exam for driver/operator.
■Skill Sheets. Outline important steps of each skill
that candidates must master to meet requirements
for certification.
■Progress Logs. Provide a system to track the progress of individual candidates as they complete the
required skills.
■Quick Reference Guides. Contain valuable information for instructors. Included are the following grids:
■2009 Edition of NFPA Standard 1002 Correlation Grid used to cross-reference Fire Apparatus Operator: Pumper with the standard.
■New Edition Correlation Guide used to crossreference the revisions between the second and
third editions of this book.
■Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Correlation Guide correlates the
model curriculum course Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply requirements to the
textbook chapters.
■Additional Resources. Offer supplemental resources for important information on various topics presented in the book.
■Image Gallery. Contains hundreds of graphics and
photos from the book and offers an additional
resource for instructors to enhance classroom
presentations.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS.
Howard Sykes.
Howard Sykes edited the third edition. He is the paid full-time chief
of the Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department, a combination department
with full-time, part-time, and volunteer members. The department serves
a suburban community in northern Durham County,
North Carolina. Chief Sykes started his fire service
career as a volunteer member of the Pelham Fire
Department, a combination department just north of
New York City, and was a member of the Pompano
Highlands Fire Department in Florida before joining Lebanon. Howard teaches various Firefighter I
and II classes, emergency vehicle driver, and driver/
operator pumps classes through the North Carolina
Community College system.
Howard Sykes has a BS in Computer Science with
an unofficial minor in electrical engineering from the
State University of New York at Stony Brook and a
Masters in Project Management from George Washington University. While a volunteer firefighter, he
worked a full career at IBM, was a member of the
industrial fire brigade, and is listed as an inventor on
various patents.
Howard is certified as an ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) technician, EVT (Emergency Vehicle Technician)/Fire Mechanic, and enjoys apparatus
maintenance and repair.
Howard has lectured worldwide, worked in an
executive briefing center, and has been responsible
for resolving critical customer problems.
Dr. Thomas B. Sturtevant.
Dr. Thomas B. Sturtevant wrote the first and edited
the second edition. He also reviewed and provided
valuable feedback during the development of the third
edition. Dr. Sturtevant is a program manager for the
Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI) within
the Texas Engineering Extension Service, itself a
member of the Texas A&M University System. He
currently manages the Emergency Management Administration online bachelor degree program with
West Texas A&M University and the Department of
Defense Emergency Services Training and Education
program. He manages ESTI’s curriculum development and accreditation/certification with the National
Professional Qualification System.
He was a tenured assistant professor at Chattanooga State Technical Community College, Tennessee, where he held the positions of dean of Distance
Education and coordinator of Fire Science Technology. Dr. Sturtevant was a fire protection specialist
with the Tennessee Valley Authority and held various firefighting positions with the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, California, and the United
States Air Force. He is a Certified Fire Protection
Specialist and has an education doctorate in Leadership for Teaching and Learning and a Masters in
Public Administration from the University of Tennessee. His research and consulting efforts focus on
program evaluation and emergency service professional development.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
The author and publisher would like to extend our
gratitude to the following individuals who participated in the development of the third edition
of this book.

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