Getting Wet Stuff to the Red Stuff For 300 Years Fire Hose Getting Wet Stuff to the Red Stuff For 300 Years

Different Flavors Booster Hose also known as a booster reel, red line, black line or hard line depending on nomenclature The most common hose is woven and can be made from synthetics or natural materials. Rubberized hose has been around for 2 decades now and is become the preferred style. It does not have the same problems as woven hose during storage, especially mold problems

Putting it Together There are several ways to couple fire hose together. Always make sure that you align the Higby cuts and check for a gasket before connecting any two hoses. The Two Person Method No big trick here. Two people with each holding a coupling. The person with the male coupling should look away and so as to not “help” The Foot Tilt Method Step just behind the male couplings shank. This will tilt the coupling up making the threads available. Bend over and twist the female section on. The Over the Hip Method This is done by sliding your hip out and laying the male coupling over it. Bring the female coupling up and twist into place.

When the going gets tough What do you do when you can’t get a coupling uncoupled. Here are some get tough suggestions. Stiff arming couplings takes two people but works well when spanners aren’t available. Each person locks their arms straight and makes a quarter turn in opposite directions to break the stuck coupling. When couplings get stuck together the easiest way is to get the right tool. Hose spanner can make tight, tough connections easy. You should use 2 as pictured and turn them in opposite directions. This can be used to tighten or loosen hose. Many of us carry pocket versions. The knee press is the only used when another person and spanners aren’t available. Stand the jammed coupling on end and put your knee on top. Lean you weight into the coupling and twist the female off. Your knee should relieve the pressure of the stuck couplings.

Roll it Up There are several different ways to roll a hose. Each has its own purpose. The Double Donut Roll This roll begins by laying both couplings side by side. The hose is then rolled from the fold side (not coupling) making the hose into two side by side rolls. The Inservice, Straight or Storage Roll This roll is accomplished by folding over the male coupling and rolling toward the female end. This protects the male coupling. Single Donut Roll Start this roll by folding the hose in half with the male end on top about 2 feet from the female end. Roll from the fold side not from the couplings

Drain and Carry (Kinda like wash and wear) To do this the hose must be laid out in a straight line. Then pick up the male coupling (to protect it) and walking toward the female coupling while lifting the hose up and folding it over your shoulder as you go. Make folds as the hose reaches your waist in both the front and back

Triple Fold This has become our standard hose load for attack lines. Stretch the hose out straight and then fold it over itself (on the ground) in a Z patter with the nozzle on top. When you pull this off an engine take the loop of hose and the nozzle in hand and walk away. When the loop pulls tight put it down and advance the nozzle where you need it. The line can be charged anytime after the loop pulls tight.

Supplying the Fire The Forward Lay is the most common type of hose lay. You start at the water source and lay hose to the fire. This gives you the advantage of having your tool box (fire engine) with you at the fire. However this requires a pressurized supply of water or another pumper to pump you water. The Reverse Lay is used when you need to pump from a water source because it is not pressurized or it doesn’t have enough pressure. You start at the fire and lay hose to the water source. This gives you the advantage of being able to pump up the water pressure with the pump. The problem is that it takes the tool box away from the fire. The Split Lay or Driveway Lay is used when you have a long lay or a narrow driveway or road. One engine lays from and intersection (or end of the driveway) to the fire. The other engine lays from that point back to the water source. The hoses are connected together and water supply is established. This is the best of both worlds but requires two engines to accomplish the task.