Chapter 10

1. Chapter 10 Fire Hose and Appliances

2. Introduction • Hose used to move water to fire • Fire hose is a flexible conduit. • Many materials are used to make hose. • Couplings, adapters, and appliances used to connect hose • Canada has unique threads and may be different from province to province. • National Pipe Straight Hose (NPSH) is typically used for smaller hoses in Canada. • National Hose Thread or National Standard Thread is typically used in the United States. 10.2

3. Construction of Fire Hose • 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 10.3

4. Woven and rubber-coated fire hose. 10.4

5. Care and Maintenanceof Fire Hose • Careful folding and placement • Folded at different places • Hose bed should facilitate air flow. • Steps can be taken to reduce damage to hose. 10.5

6. Types of Hose Coupling • Couplings joins hose and appliances. • Threaded and non-threaded couplings • Made of brass, aluminium, or pyrolite • Lugs or handles are used for tightening or breaking connection. 10.6

7. Care and Maintenanceof Couplings • Keep clean. • Store properly. • Do not drag couplings. • Perform a visual inspection each time hose is reloaded. 10.7

8. Hose Tools and Appliances • Tools include: • Rope hose tools • Wrenches • Rollers • Clamps • Other items: valves, wyes, portable hydrants, strainers, pipes, caps, etc. 10.8

9. Various hose tools. 10.9

10. Hose roller. 10.10

11. Coupling and Uncoupling Hose • Connecting hose couplings: • 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 10.11

12. Hose Rolls • Type of hose roll dictated by department policy • Firefighters should practice all types of hose rolls. • Straight/storage • Single donut • Twin or double donut 10.12

13. Hose Carries • Type of hose carry is dictated by user and on-scene conditions. • Firefighters should be proficient in all types of hose carries. • Drain and carry • Shoulder loop carry • Single-section street drag 10.13

14. Hose Loads • Dependent on type of firefighting operations a company will employ • A well-trained company should perform any required fire scene tasks. • Dutchman 10.14

15. 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. 10.15

16. Hose Loads (cont.) • Accordion load • Flat load • Horseshoe load • Straight finish load • Flat load • Slot load • Triple layer load 10.16

17. Pre-connected combination loads include horseshoe, accordion, accordion layers or alternating horseshoe and accordion layers. (A) Horseshoe, accordion, accordion layers. (B) Alternating horseshoe and accordion layers. 10.17

18. 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. 10.18

19. Stored Hose Load/Packs • Apparatus carry stored hose rolls and special application hose packs • Extra sections of rolled hose • Hose packs are numerous in design and makeup. • Straight roll • Donut roll • Double donut 10.19

20. Wildland FirefightingHose Loads • Firefighters stretch hoseline a great distance from engine. • Hose is rolled and bundled together. • Placing bundles together allows each firefighter to carry 60 metres (200 feet). 10.20

21. Advancing Hoselines—Charged/Uncharged • The purpose is to advance hoselines to seat of fire and to supply water. • Efficient manner • Nozzle person • Company officer • Engine person 10.21

22. Advancing Hoselines—Charged/Uncharged (cont.) • Advancing a horseshoe load • Advancing the flat load from a pre-connect bed • Advancing the minuteman load • Advancing the triple-layer load 10.22

23. Into Structures • Advancing a hoseline into a structure • Careful placement of pumper and hoseline • Proper selection of correct size and length hoseline • Skilful execution by hose crew • Crew selects hoseline and properly removes it from engine. • Ensure adequate hose available at entry. • Check door for heat before entering. 10.23

24. Up and Down Stairs • If fire does not involve stairs, advance an uncharged line to fire floor. • Advancing an uncharged line • Advancing a charged line • It is necessary to run hoseline up between handrails. • Using rope or strap • If stairwell or landing is involved with fire, crew must advance a charged line. 10.24

25. A crew advancing an uncharged hoseline up stairs. 10.25

26. Using a Standpipe System • Engine driver connects to FDC. • Hose crew connects to standpipe outlet and advances hoseline. • Pumper first establishes a water supply. • Hose load and type of coupling determine need for any adapters. • Choose connection that gets system into service quickest. 10.26

27. 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. 10.27

28. Working Hose off Ladders • Safest manner is to advance uncharged hoseline up 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. 10.28

29. Firefighters passing a charged hoseline up a ladder from one firefighter to the next until it reaches the opening. 10.29

30. Establishing a WaterSupply Connection • Several different methods exist depending on: • Type of water source • Style of hydrant • Hose lays used • Whether a pumper will be used at the water source • Firefighters’ duties and responsibilities 10.30

31. From Hydrants • Using unsupported hydrant requires hoseline to be connected without engine at hydrant. • Choose proper hydrant outlet. • Flush hydrant. • Hydrant valve opened • Engine connection 10.31

32. The layout person pulls the layout section and enough hose to reach and wrap the hydrant. 10.32

33. From Static Water Supplies • Uses engine and its hard sleeves to draft water • Must be positioned close • Connecting hard sleeve to dry hydrant is same procedure as connecting to regular hydrant. • Vacuum must be created. 10.33

34. Extending Hoselines • There will be occasions when line comes up short. • Wildland fires • Techniques to extending hoselines: • Break-apart nozzle • Hose clamp • Wildland hose advancing and extension 10.34

35. Replacing Sectionsof Burst Hose • Bursting hose requires immediate attention. • Hose must be shut down by pump operator. • If not possible, use other methods. • Reconnect or add a section; pump operator will recharge line. 10.35

36. Hose Lay Procedures • Bring water to fire location • Forward lay • Reverse lay • Split lay 10.36

37. Deploying MasterStream Devices • Master streams or heavy appliances • Capable of flowing 1,325Lpm (350 gpm) • Non-handheld water applicators • Four basic types of master stream devices • Wagon pipe • Deluge set • Monitor pipe • Ladder pipe 10.37

38. Proper operations of portable deluge sets. 10.38

39. Fire Hose Inspection • Test prior to service and annually. • Use record-keeping system. • Know how to remove defective hose from service and reporting procedures. • Remove from service if worn, damaged, or does not pass service testing. • Mark out-of-service hose. • Record results of hose testing.

40. 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. • Best method of learning is practical application. 10.40