County officials say Water for Fire town hall raised hydrant, tank and sprinkler concerns

County supervisors reported that a recent Water for Fire Suppression town hall brought water providers, fire chiefs and building-code officials together to discuss practical constraints to using drinking-water systems for fire suppression and options such as stored tanks or dedicated hydrant storage.

Supervisor (speaker 1) said the town hall included robust technical discussion about hydrant storage and the limitations of relying on drinking-water supplies for extended fire suppression. Attendees discussed National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard tank sizes commonly used for rural hydrant systems — roughly 2,500 to 5,000 gallons — and challenges with filling and suction when those tanks are drawn down.

Why it matters: supervisors and local water providers said planning for reliable local supplies and storage is a necessary part of wildfire preparedness. County officials described trade-offs between everyday potable-water needs and the large volumes required during sustained fire response.

Details from the meeting: supervisors said the meeting was technical and helpful, noting that meter hookups, storage configurations and sprinkler requirements for construction were all raised as practical issues. One supervisor reported the session ran longer than planned because detailed technical questions kept the conversation going; organizers will schedule follow-ups. A supervisor said the meeting will continue and that organizers are considering “out of the box” solutions to collect and store water during rainy periods when capture is possible.

Ending: Supervisors described the town hall as productive and said additional meetings will be scheduled to refine local storage and system solutions for fire suppression.