FAIRFAX COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT SAFETY BULLETIN	DISTRIBUTION: H
SUBJECT: Stortz Coupling and Operator Awareness	NUMBER: 2007-007
APPROVED BY: Safety and Personnel Services Division Deputy Chief Kevin L. Kincaid	DATE: August 16, 2007

On Sunday, August 12, 2007, a Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department firefighter sustained serious injury while opening a Stortz Blind Cap on the Rear Large Diameter Intake on 2006 Pierce Dash with a 1250 Waterous Pump. Please see attached picture.

After this incident, the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department has learned that other personnel in their department and surrounding jurisdictions have witnessed similar results involving this type of Rear Intake. In these incidents, personnel reported that while opening Stortz Blind Caps on Large Diameter Rear Intakes (LDRI), pressure has built up in the plumbing leading to the cap, making it difficult to remove. When the cap releases, it propels off with tremendous force.

In preliminary testing, this condition occurs when the LDRI valve has been opened and closed from the pump panel (electronic button) during pumping operations, supplied by a hydrant from the Large Diameter Side Intake (LDSI), with the Stortz Blind Cap still in place and the corresponding bleeder valves in the closed position. The accidental opening and closing of the LDRI Valve can easily occur due to electronic switch placement on the pump panel.

All Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department driver/operators are asked to re-familiarize themselves with the valve switch placement. It is recommended that all discharge and intake bleeder valves remain open to relieve pressure. This is not to include the master pump drain. With these bleeder valves open, there should not be any pressure build-up in the system. Remember that LDH piping will take longer to bleed off pressure because of the size of the piping.

For additional information, see Safety Bulletin 2007-002, contact a representative in the Apparatus Section, and/or go to the following link at http://www.firelogistics.com.au/stortz.html

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