Chapter 10
Fire Hose and Appliances
1
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
2
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
3
Woven and rubber-coated fire hose.
10.4
4
Care and Maintenance
of 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
5
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
6
Care and Maintenance
of Couplings
 Keep clean.
 Store properly.
 Do not drag couplings.
 Perform a visual inspection each time hose
is reloaded.
10.7
7
Hose Tools and Appliances
 Tools include:
 Rope hose tools
 Wrenches
 Rollers
 Clamps
 Other items: valves, wyes, portable
hydrants, strainers, pipes, caps, etc.
10.8
8
Various hose tools.
10.9
9
Hose roller.
10.10
10
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
11
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
12
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
13
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
14
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
15
Hose Loads (cont.)
 Accordion load
 Flat load
 Horseshoe load
 Straight finish load
 Flat load
 Slot load
 Triple layer load
10.16
16
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
17
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
18
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
19
Wildland Firefighting
Hose 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
20
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
21
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
22
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
23
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
24
A crew advancing an
uncharged hoseline up
stairs.
10.25
25
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
26
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
27
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
28
Firefighters passing a charged hoseline up a ladder
from one firefighter to the next until it reaches the
opening.
10.29
29
Establishing a Water
Supply 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
30
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
31
The layout person pulls the layout section and
enough hose to reach and wrap the hydrant.
10.32
32
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
33
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
34
Replacing Sections
of 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
35
Hose Lay Procedures
 Bring water to fire location
 Forward lay
 Reverse lay
 Split lay
10.36
36
Deploying Master
Stream 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
37
Proper operations of portable deluge sets.
10.38
38
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.
39
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
40