S-211, Portable Pumps and Water Use (ILT)

Course Title

Portable Pumps and Water Use (ILT)

Version Date

2012

Previous Certification Dates

2004-10
1978-09
1993-02

Course Number

S-211

Other Training Which Supports

Basic Faller (FAL3), Advanced Faller (FAL1), Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UASP), Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1), Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5), Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB), Intermediate Faller (FAL2)

Course Description

This course is designed to provide knowledge and skills to design, setup, operate, troubleshoot, and shut down portable water delivery systems. The focus is on portable pumps – it does not address water delivery for engines. Topics covered include: portable water delivery systems; equipment; roles and responsibilities; and system design and hydraulics. There is also a field exercise where students will apply what they learned in the classroom.

Course Objective

Demonstrate knowledge and skills to design, set up, operate, troubleshoot, and shut down portable water delivery systems.

Lead Instructor Minimum Qualifications

Instructors must be knowledgeable in the use and maintenance of portable water pumps. Hydraulics unit requires competency in that subject matter.

Format

Instructor Led

Special Delivery Considerations

These materials are needed above and beyond the usual items (pens, paper, flip charts, markers, etc.).

Examples of hoses (suction and discharge), appliances, hose accessories and tools, nozzles, and sprinklers.
High Pressure Pump Kit, NFES 000870.
NWCG Standards for Transporting Fuel, PMS 442
Field Day Exercise
PPE, including eye and ear protection
IRPG
Portable Pump Kits and additional equipment for setting up pumps (shovel, fuel, etc.) (1 per small group or as needed)
Hoses, appliances, hose accessories and tools, for setting up portable water delivery system (1 set per small group or as needed)
Optional: Sprinkler kit and other types of portable pumps (1 per small group or as needed)
Optional: Pump pressure gauges A-5

Business Steward

OMC Operations Management Committee

Unit Instructor Minimum Qualifications

Instructors must be knowledgeable in the use and maintenance of portable water pumps. Hydraulics unit requires competency in that subject matter.

Alternate Delivery Mode

Not Applicable

Class Size Recommendations

Recommended class size is 20-30 students. Instructors should maintain a 10:1 ratio of students to instructors/coaches to facilitate exercises and discussion and to enable strong mentorship to the students.

Class Size Recommendations

NWCG Latest Announcements

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species – Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

Date: July 30, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics and Equipment Management Committee (LMC) issued Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels, reminding the wildland fire community that aquatic mussels continue to be a problem. Mussels rapidly colonize hard and soft surfaces, including aquatic plants and fire equipment, clogging pipes, fouling motors, disrupting water systems, and impacting native species.

To help prevent their spread, fire personnel must follow the decontamination procedures outlined in the NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444. Additionally, report any sightings immediately to your Lead Resource Advisor and include clear, close-up photos (with a pen or your hand for size reference) and location details.”

Read the complete LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001, to learn more.

References:

NWCG Alerts

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Task Book Update

Date: July 24, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG Operations Management Committee (OMC) has issued an update to the NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91. To ensure clarity for both trainees and evaluators, the updated FAL2 Position Task Book (PTB) explicitly states who is authorized to sign off on your tasks:

“Evaluators must be qualified as a FAL2, or an Advanced Faller (FAL1).”

If you are currently working out of a previously published version of the FAL2 PTB, you do not need to restart. However, OMC highly encourages you to take the following step to prevent any confusion in the field:

Print and replace the updated evaluator information page (page 2) in your current physical PTB.

References:

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

RMC Memo 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementing Updates to Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Qualifications

NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91

Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups

Date: July 10, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics/Equipment Management Committee (LMC) has released Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups. This advisory highlights multiple U.S. Forest Service regions reporting front driveline joint failure incidents.

This advisory recommends firefighters and fire managers to:

Follow all Ram-issued inspection, maintenance, and service guidance for front driveline joints.
Consider installing a driveline loop.
Coordinate with fleet managers and service providers to determine the most appropriate driveline loop kit for each pickup.

For further details, please refer to the complete advisory.