Merced firefighters train, work to conserve water

County and city firefighters in Merced are doing their part to help conserve water by implementing new practices while training.

About 20 firefighters began an annual training Thursday in connecting to water sources when the supply in engines is depleted. Usually during these trainings, firefighters and engineers connect to fire hydrants in low traffic areas and spray the water onto roads or empty subdivisions. But, on Thursday, firefighters directed the water to dry, brown parks in the city.

“We’re doing every effort we can to reclaim water and still complete our mandatory training,” said Billy Alcorn, a battalion chief with Merced Fire Department. “This is more efficient. We’re doing a better job at being water conscious. This drought has impacted all of us so now we have to think creatively.”

California Gov. Jerry Brown has mandated the state must save 25 percent of water compared with 2013. In June, the State Water Resources Control Board published a report showing Merced exceeded its target with 42 percent conservation in June.

The fire department worked with the public works department to come up with a plan to reduce water waste during the fire department’s training. The public works department identified Fahrens Park, Stephen Leonard Park, Gilbert Macias Park and Macready Park at the Merced Regional Airport as ideal places for the firefighters to complete their training. Those parks have had issues with their irrigation systems, said George Sanchez, the public works supervisor for parks and trees.

The city’s environmental control office also implemented new practices Thursday as employees flushed hydrants to check for contaminants in the water. Instead of letting the water go down the storm drain, employees used it to water landscapes in center dividers, Sanchez said.

Don Staiger, an engineer with Merced Fire Department, said Thursday’s training had two benefits: “We did training that we need and used it to help save trees from completely dying.”

Staiger, a 28-year veteran to the department, said it’s important for firefighters to train with flowing water, and that they were able to control the amount of water used and keep it low. Staiger estimated Thursday’s training used less than 1,000 gallons of water.

“Training that many people with that little water is great experience and great learning,” he said.

This story was originally published August 6, 2015 at 4:59 PM with the headline "Merced firefighters train, work to conserve water."