Simulation by SimsuShare (formerly CommandSim) and Capt. Douglas Watson, Palm Beach County (FL) Fire Rescue

Many times the only practice a pump operator can get is in the real apparatus and in front of the real pump panel. To help bridge the concepts with practical application, you can use this simulation before you put your personnel in those situations, or to use as a refresher. It provides you with a set of basic skill exercises for your drivers/pump operators. Students who complete all the exercises successfully can print out a certificate of completion. The sequence has been designed following Palm Beach County (FL) Fire Rescue’s protocols, but is sufficiently general to be applicable to a wider audience. The pump panel exercise can be performed using a standard relief valve and throttle or any of five example governors. 

For those who cannot run the pump operator simulation in their browser, Simsushare has generously provided files that can be downloaded and run on your local machine. Please note that this updated simulation is only compatible with Windows OS and will not run on Mac.

The scenario and accompanying materials have been designed by Douglas Watson, Captain, Director of Driver Training, Palm Beach County (FL) Fire Rescue (Florida). The technical development and production was done by CommandSim.

Fireground Pump Operations: Mastering the Panel

Friction Loss Rules of Thumb

Engine Company: You’re an Engineer; Now What?

Firefighter Training: Pump Operations and More

Every Pump Operator’s Basic Equation

Water Management Officer: Taking Charge of the Water

Training Minutes: The Heads-Up Engineer: At the Fire

Training Minutes: The Heads-Up Engineer: At the Station

 Original simulation posted June 3, 2008. Updated April 11, 2020.