Friday, January 27, 2012 The metallurgy analysis points to casting flaws in Snap-tite’s manufacturing process as the cause of the failure.

On 7-27-09 the Hampton Twp Fire Dept in Sussex County, NJ, was conducting a training exercise. The drill involved 3 tankers and 2 pumpers. It was to be a water shuttle exercise. Eng 48-62 was set up as the hole pumper at the draft site to fill the water tankers. There was 100′ of 5″ LDH from 48-62 tothe portable hydrant, (The hydrant was a Snap Tite water Thief/Manifold,with 5″ LDH intake and 4 2-1/2″ discharges).

We were using two (2) of the 4 discharges with 100′ of 2 1/2″ hose from each discharge. The flow rate was 125psi. The order was given for the hydrant to be shut down as the tanker was full. The fire fighter controlling the hydrant began the process of a slow shut down and the pump operator on Engine 48-62 began to reduce his pressure. As the Hampton Twp fire fighter was leaning over the control valves shutting down, for undetermined reasons the portable hydrant exploded. The force of the explosion threw the fire fighter into the air, Her boots were found approximately 50′ from were she landed and 25′ apart from each other her helmet landed next to one of her boots. Hampton Twp EMS, which was on scene for the drill, started 1st aid procedures and the fire fighter was airlifted to a trauma center.
Take a look at the entire report here: