Cape Coral firefighters undergo ‘turbo draft’ training

Cape Coral fire crews had a special training on Thursday to speed up the process of getting water from nearby canals to putting out flames. It comes a day after a family’s home was left in ruins and the death of three dogs inside it.

The training addressed a serious question: how do Cape Coral firefighters put out a fire when there is no fire hydrant in sight?

Cape Coral Fire Dept. rains monthly, using a procedure called, “turbo draft.” The procedure allows the crew to get water from canals, lakes and pools.

“We implement the turbo draft to get us water on scene quicker,” said Eric Hawkins, Cape Coral Fire Dept. battalion chief.

The turbo draft process takes around five minutes. It involves taking out the tools, securing the turbo draft in the water and maintaining the proper pressure. But, it is significantly longer than using a hydrant, which takes around 30 seconds.

Hawkins told WINK News the turbo draft is a complex procedure that takes at least three members of the crew.

“We need to use ladders, the turbo draft itself,” Hawkins said. “You need straps to tie the turbo draft down to the water.”

More time, but necessary for fires like the one in NW Cape Coral on Wednesday. Hawkins said the fire was not contained and they did not hear about it until neighbors called. That lost them valuable time.

“Those fires that have progressed to a certain level,” Hawkins said, “are more difficult to put out with a single engine.”

Once the fire fighter take the water from the canal and its drawn into the truck, then they are able to use turbo draft to fight the flames.

“We’re lucky in those ways that where we don’t have hydrants,” Hawkins said, “we have a lot of good friends and good tools that we can put a fire out with.”