1. Fire Hose and Appliances
Chapter 10
Fire Hose and Appliances

2. Introduction Hose used to move water to fire
Fire hose is a flexible conduit
Today, many materials are used to make hose
Couplings, adapters, and appliances used to connect hose
Most departments use National Standard Hose Threads

3. Construction of Fire Hose
Two components: hose and couplings
Fire hose can be wrapped, braided, or woven
Specific types of hoses:
Attack
Supply hose
Soft suction and hard suction
Occupant use
Forestry

4. Figure 10-1 Woven and rubber-coated fire hose.

5. Care and Maintenance of Fire Hose
Begins with careful folding and placement of the dry hose
Always folded at different places
Hose bed should be designed to facilitate circulation of air flow
Several steps can be taken to reduce damage to hose

6. Types of Hose Coupling
Couplings allow hose and appliances to be joined
Threaded and nonthreaded couplings
Made of brass, aluminum, or an alloy called pyrolite
Lugs or handles are used for tightening or breaking connection

7. Care and Maintenance of Couplings
Keep clean
Store properly
Do not drag couplings
Perform a visual inspection each time hose is reloaded

8. Hose Tools and Appliances
Tools include:
Rope hose tools
Wrenches
Rollers
Clamps
Other items: valves, wyes, portable hydrants, strainers, pipes, caps, etc.

9. Figure 10-11 Various hose tools.

10. Figure Hose roller.

11. Coupling and Uncoupling Hose
Connecting hose couplings can be accomplished in several ways:
One-person foot-tilt method
One-person over-the-hip method
Two-person over-the-hip method
Uncoupling hose with spanners
One-person knee-press uncoupling method

12. Hose Rolls Type of hose roll dictated by department policy
Firefighters should practice all types of hose rolls

13. Straight/Storage Easiest to work with
Often used when picking up after a fire
Start with hose flat on ground
From male end, to protect threads, roll hose straight to opposite end
Once roll is finished, it is ready to be moved to storage

14. Single Donut For access to either or both couplings
Lay hose flat
Fold hose on top of itself with male coupling three feet short of female coupling
Start at fold and roll toward couplings; a second firefighter can assist
Leave small space at center of roll to provide handhold
Alternative method by starting off-center about six feet to protect male coupling

15. Job Performance Requirement 10-6
Straight or Storage Hose Roll
A Start with the hose flat on the ground. From the male end, to protect the threads, roll it straight to the opposite end.
B Once the roll is finished, it is ready to be moved to storage.

16. Twin or Double Donut For special applications
Laid flat with both couplings at one end and each half lying parallel
At center, loop is folded over top of both halves
Roll started toward couplings at same time
At end, roll may be tied together for carrying
Twin donut can be secured by using the hose itself

17. Job Performance Requirement 10-9
Twin-Donut Hose Roll
A First the hose is laid flat with both couplings at one end and each half lying parallel to the other.
B At the center, the loop is folded over the top of both halves.

18. Job Performance Requirement 10-9 (cont’d.)
Twin-Donut Hose Roll
C The roll is started toward the couplings at the same time.
D At the end, the roll may be tied together for carrying.
10.18

19. Job Performance Requirement 10-9 (cont’d.)
Twin-Donut Hose Roll
E The twin donut can be secured by using the hose itself. This is called a self-locking roll. To accomplish this, extend the amount of hose that is used for the starting fold and loop. Allow this excessive hose to “flop” as the twin donuts are rolled. When finished, use the extra hose at the center to form a bight around the two end couplings. (Photo courtesy Loveland Fire and Rescue)
10.19

20. Hose Carries
Type of hose carry is dictated by user preference and on-scene conditions
Firefighters should practice to be proficient in all types of hose carries

21. Drain and Carry Combines the two steps of draining and carrying
Done with one section of hose
Starts at one end of hose; with coupling held waist height, feeds hose over shoulder and back to waist
Fold is created and hose is laid on itself back to front
Firefighter continues to walk forward folding and refolding hose at waist until finished
Hose can be carried to new location

22. Job Performance Requirement 10-10
Drain and Carry
A The firefighter starts at one end of the hose and with the coupling held waist height feeds the hose over the shoulder and back down to the waist.
B A fold is created and the hose is laid on itself back to the front.

23. Job Performance Requirement 10-10 (cont’d.)
Drain and Carry
C The firefighter continues to walk forward folding and refolding the hose at the waist until finished. The hose can then be carried to the new location.
10.23

24. Shoulder Loop Carry
Carry is similar to rolling an electrical cord around one's arm but with bigger loops
Place nozzle or end of hose over shoulder resting against back
Walk forward three feet, pick up hose, and form bight to bring hose back up and over shoulder, creating a loop
Continue as each section is picked up and carried forward

25. Job Performance Requirement 10-11
Shoulder Loop Carry
B Walk forward about 3 feet (1 m), pick up the hose, and form a bight to bring the hose back up and over the shoulder, creating a loop.
C Continue as each section is picked up and carried forward.
A Place the nozzle or end of hose over the shoulder resting against the back.

26. Job Performance Requirement 10-11 (cont’d.)
Shoulder Loop Carry
D If you need to move in the opposite direction, the loops are collected and raised with your hands and then rotated to the opposite direction.
E Return the hose to the opposite shoulder moving forward in the new direction.

27. Single-Section Street Drag
Can move one or two hoselines
Put end of hose over your shoulder with coupling in front at waist height and walk away dragging line
Place a line over each shoulder and pull two lines
If additional sections are needed, additional firefighters can do the same

28. Job Performance Requirement 10-12
Single-Section Street Drag
A Put the end of a section of hose over your shoulder with the coupling in front at waist height and walk away dragging the line.
B Place a line over each shoulder and pull two lines.

29. Job Performance Requirement 10-12 (cont’d.)
Single-Section Street Drag
C If additional sections are needed, additional firefighters can do the same with the following sections until the desired amount of hose is stretched.

30. Hose Loads
Dependent on type of firefighting operations a company will employ
A well-trained company should be able to perform any required fire scene tasks
Dutchman: short fold of hose or reverse fold that allows coupling placement on load

31. Figure A dutchman is a short fold of hose or a reverse fold that is used when loading hose and a coupling comes at a point where a fold should take place or when two couplings end up on top of each other. The dutchman moves the coupling to another point in the load.

32. Accordion Load Can be used for preconnected hose lines
Used for providing additional supply line
Ideal for making up shoulder loads

33. Flat Load Used for: Involves laying the hose flat
Supply lines
Some attack lines
Involves laying the hose flat
Intended use dictates whether female or male end remains exposed when line is loaded

34. Figure A straight finish load simply involves taking the final length or two of a load and laying it flat across the top of the load. A rope with adapters, a spanner wrench, and a hydrant wrench attached allows the layout person quick access to all the necessary tools and enough hose to make the hydrant connection.

35. Horseshoe Load Normally used for supply line Relatively simple to load
Usually deploys well
Useful for operations that require entire hoseload to be deployed at once

36. Finish Loads and Preconnected Loads
Utilizes the three methods of loading previously discussed
Straight finish load used with a straight hose lay
Attack line can be attached to end of a hose load
Backstretch
Flying stretch
Preconnected lines can be made up using any number of loads or combinations

37. Figure A reverse horseshoe load for laying out is made on top of the hose load but in the reverse direction (front to back), and at the center point of the “U” of the horseshoe the rope with adapters and wrenches is attached. The first portion of the hose may need a twist in it to get it to change direction.

38. (A)
(B)
Figure Preconnected combination loads include horseshoe, accordion, accordion layers or alternating horseshoe and accordion layers. (A) Horseshoe, accordion, accordion layers. (B) Alternating horseshoe and accordion layers.

39. Flat Load, Minuteman Load, and Triple-Layer Load
Preconnected loads must allow rapid removal of hose from slot or bed
Flat load, as a preconnect, is based on flat load described earlier
Minuteman is a preconnected load using narrower section of the hose bed
Loads combined with each other or new loads
Hose load should serve needs of the department

40. Stored Hose Load/Packs
Apparatuses typically carry stored hose rolls and special application hose packs
Hose rolls are extra sections of rolled hose
Can be stored as a straight roll, donut roll, or double donut
Hose packs are numerous in design and makeup

41. Wildland Firefighting Hose Loads
Often requires firefighters to stretch hoseline a great distance from engine
Hose is rolled and bundled together
Placing two bundles together allows each firefighter to carry 200 feet

42. Advancing Hoselines – Charged/Uncharged
Engine company's purpose is to advance hoselines to seat of fire and to supply water
Tasks accomplished in most efficient manner
Nozzle person advances first shoulder load with nozzle
Officer takes second position
Engine person takes third position in a three-person line

43. Job Performance Requirement 10-18
Advancing a Horseshoe Load
A Place the nozzle on the hose and select the desired amount of hose to deploy.
B Pull the hose and place it on your shoulder.
C Step away to pull the hose out of the bed.

44. Job Performance Requirement 10-20
Advancing the Flat Load from a Preconnect Bed
A Start the flat load at the discharge with the hose laid. At a point from one-third to one-half the length of the line, an ear or row of ears should be added to assist in pulling the line.
B To advance the line, grab the nozzle and place it over the shoulder with the other hand reaching around and pulling the ear.

45. Job Performance Requirement 10-20 (cont’d.)
Advancing the Flat Load from a Preconnect Bed
C Walk away, pulling the line behind.

46. Job Performance Requirement 10-22
Advancing the Minuteman Load
A Lift up the nozzle and layers above it while pulling them out and placing them midway on the shoulder.
B Step away to remove the remainder of the top layers.

47. Job Performance Requirement 0-22 (cont’d.)
Advancing the Minuteman Load
C Turn around and pull the ear to remove the remaining hose.
D When the bottom sections are fully stretched out, allow the shoulder load to flake out toward the fire.

48. Job Performance Requirement 10-24
Advancing the Triple-Layer Load
A Grab the layer with the nozzle and place it on the shoulder.
B Pull the layers out of the slot, or another firefighter can grab the next layer.

49. Job Performance Requirement 10-24 (cont’d.)
Advancing the Triple-Layer Load
C Stretch the hose to the fire.

50. Into Structures Advancing a hoseline into a structure requires:
Careful placement of pumper and hoseline
Proper selection of correct size and length hoseline
Skillful execution by hose crew
Crew selects hoseline and properly removes it from engine
Ensure there is adequate hose available at entry point
Check door for heat before entering

51. Up and Down Stairs
If fire does not involve stairs, advance an uncharged line to fire floor
It is necessary to run hoseline up between handrails
Rope or strap is wrapped around the railing and secured back on itself
If stairwell or landing is involved with fire, crew must advance a charged line

52. Figure 10-26 A crew advancing an uncharged hoseline up stairs.

53. Using a Standpipe System
Involves two different hoseline evolutions
Engine driver connecting to fire department connection on structure
Hose crew connecting to standpipe outlet and advancing hoseline to attack fire
Pumper first establishes a water supply
Hose load and type of coupling determine need for any adapters
Pick connection that gets system into service quickest

54. Figure After connecting the hose at the outlet and the discharge outlet of the pump, the line is charged to the proper pressure. The driver then returns to the outlet and opens the valve.

55. Working Hose Off Ladders
Safest manner is to advance uncharged hoseline up ladder and into building or onto fire escape
Other method advances a charged hoseline up ladder and into building or operated from ladder
Advancing a charged hoseline over a ladder requires multiple firefighters
Operating a hoseline from ground ladder requires ladder to be securely tied in and heeled

56. Figure Firefighters passing a charged hoseline up a ladder from one firefighter to the next until it reaches the opening.

57. Establishing a Water Supply Connection
Several different methods exist depending on:
Type of heater source
Style of hydrant
Hose lays used
Whether a pumper will be used at the water source
Firefighters connect directly to fire hydrant and assist engine driver in making connections

58. From Hydrants
Using unsupported hydrant requires hoseline to be connected without engine at hydrant
Layout person picks proper hydrant outlet
Flush hydrant before connecting hose
Hydrant valve is opened when water is called for
Engine connected directly to hydrant or to switch valve already in service to supply attack lines

59. Figure The layout person pulls the layout section and enough hose to reach and wrap the hydrant.

60. From Static Water Supplies
Requires use of an engine and its hard sleeves to draft water
Must be positioned close enough
Connecting hard sleeve to dry hydrant is same procedure as connecting to regular hydrant
Vacuum must be created

61. Extending Hoselines There will be occasions when line comes up short
Often encountered by wildland firefighters
All firefighters should be familiar with techniques used to extend hoselines:
Break-apart nozzle
Hose clamp
Wildland hose advancing and extension

62. Replacing Sections of Burst Hose
Bursting of a section of hose requires immediate attention
Hoseline must be shut down by pump operator
If not possible, use other methods
Reconnect or add a section; pump operator will recharge line

63. Hose Lay Procedures Bring water to fire location
SOPs should cover preferred hose lays and water supply operations

64. Forward Lay Engine stops at water source Drop off supply lines
Advances to location of fire
Figure The forward or straight hose lay.

65. Reverse Lay Opposite of forward lay Less preferred method
Supply line dropped off at fire location
Engine laying hose toward water source
Less preferred method
Used in areas with few responding units and poor or static water sources

66. Figure 10-42 The reverse hose lay.

67. Split Lay
Used when fire and water source are in two different directions
Lay split between two engines
First engine laying its line from a point or intersection to fire location
Second engine laying its line from point to water source

68. Deploying Master Stream Devices
Master streams or heavy appliances:
Non-handheld water applicators
Capable of flowing 350 gallons of water per minute
Four basic types of master stream devices:
Wagon pipe
Deluge set
Monitor pipe
Ladder pipe

69. Figure 10-45 Proper operations of portable deluge sets.

70. Service Testing of Fire Hose
Tested prior to being placed in use
Tested after being repaired
Testing begins with visual inspection
Test hose under pressure
Record results of testing
Hard sleeves tested by being connected to a suction source

71. Lessons Learned
Fire hose, adapters, and appliances allow firefighters to move water from source to pumper
Without these tools, firefighters would be limited in ability to move water
Firefighters must understand the proper use and care of tools
How to connect, advance, and operate these tools
These are the basics of firefighting
Best method for learning is practical application