How close must a fire engine get to a static water source to be able to draft directly from it through hard suction hose?

To effectively draft water from a static water source using hard suction hose, the fire engine must position itself at a maximum distance determined by the principles of suction and atmospheric pressure. For most standard setups, drafting directly from a static water source typically requires the fire engine to be within about 20 feet. This distance allows the pump to create a sufficient vacuum to lift the water against atmospheric pressure.

If the engine is situated further than this distance, the vacuum created may not be strong enough to lift the water effectively, leading to potential drafting issues. Maintaining the correct distance ensures that the firefighters can access the water supply efficiently, which is critical in emergency situations where time and resources are limited.