Basic Firefighter

Fire Hoses

Michael Corsello – Peyton Fire

 Fire Hoses
“Any flexible tube used by firefighters to
carry water under pressure from the
source of supply to a point where it is
discharged” – IFSTA essentials
There are many materials, sizes and
connectors used in the fire service
 Fire Hoses
Fire Hose Sizes
Each size has a purpose
Generally in 50 and 100 foot sections
Hoses are governed by NFPA1901, 1961,
1962 and 1963 primarily
 Fire Hoses
Intake Hose
Two types
Hard Suction – used primarily to draft water
from an open source (i.e. a pond) or to siphon
water from one tank to another (i.e. a port-a-
tank) - generally in sizes from 2½ in – 6 in
Soft Sleeve – used to transfer water from a
hydrant or other pressurized source to a pump
intake – generally in sizes from 2½in – 6 in
 Fire Hoses
Hose Construction
5 Common Types
Booster Woven-Jacket Impregnated Non-Collapsible Flexible Non-
Hose 1 – 6 in Single Jacket Intake Collapsible Intake
¾ - 1 in 1½ - 5 in 2½ - 6 in 2½ - 6 in
Rubber Coat 1 or 2 Woven Polymer Coat Rubber Coat Rubber Coat
Jackets
Fabric Polymer Fabric and Wire Fabric and Plastic
Reinforced Rubber Lined Lined Reinforced Reinforced (Spiral)
(Spiral)
Rubber Rubber Lined
Lined Rubber Lined
 Fire Hoses
Damage – Causes and Prevention
Mechanical Damage
Abrasions, rips / tears, crushed or cracked
couplings, damaged liners, damaged threads
Don’t drag hoses over rough or sharp objects
Open and close valves / nozzles slowly to
prevent water hammer
Change the position of bends frequently in lays
Avoid excessive pressures
Use hose bridges / chafing blocks
 Fire Hoses
Damage – Causes and Prevention
Thermal Damage
Exposure to heat decomposes rubber, burns cotton and
melts polymers
Protect hoses from excessive heat
Use moderate heat for drying
Keep woven jackets dry
Flow water through unused hose to prolong life
Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun
Keep away from vehicle / pump exhausts
 Fire Hoses
Damage – Causes and Prevention
Organic / Chemical Damage
Failure to dry hoses can result in rot due to mold and
mildew
Chemicals and their vapors may cause decomposition to
exposed parts
Clean hoses after every use
Swap out wet hoses for dry ones on apparatus
Allow hoses to dry before rolling or reloading
Keep hoses away from chemicals as much as possible
Replace contaminated hoses as needed
 Fire Hoses
Care and Maintenance
Washing
Rubber coated – rinse with water and wipe
clean
Fabric coated – brush off dirt and clean with
pressure washer (a hose washer is very useful)
Drying
All fabric coated hoses should be dried before
rolling or reloading
 Fire Hoses
Care and Maintenance
Storing
Hoses should be restocked on apparatus or
rolled and stored in an appropriate manner
Gaskets / O-Rings
Swivel gaskets or expansion ring gaskets
should be inspected at every washing and
replaced when necessary
 Fire Hoses
Couplings
2 Basic types
Threaded (various types of threads)
3 and 5 piece basic designs
Storz (Sexless interlocking coupling)
Both ends identical, can be connected together
Secured by a third-turn
Others – quarter-turn, oilfield rocker lug, snap
Fire Hoses
 Fire Hoses
Threaded Couplings
Shank – portion of coupling connected to
hose
Ends can be identified by noting the lugs
Only male couplings have lugs on the shank
Female couplings have lugs on the swivel
Couplings can be tightened via the lugs
using a spanner wrench
 Fire Hoses
Threaded Couplings
Lug Types
Rocker – most common, exposed flat bar lug parallel to
length of hose
Pin – exposed lug
Recessed – indentation in hose (mostly on booster lines),
required special spanner wrench
Higbee Cut / Indicator
Special cut on initial thread to provide positive thread
contact, reducing cross-threading
The Higbee Indicator is a notch in the lugs indicating the
location of the Higbee Cut
Fire Hoses
 Fire Hoses
Hose Appliances and Tools
Valves
Valve Devices
Fittings
Intake Devices
Rollers
Jackets
Clamps
 Fire Hoses
Valves
Ball – used in pumper discharges and gated wyes,
open when handle is in line with hose
Gate – used in hydrant operations, have a flat
gate that slides up and down via a screw
mechanism (OS&Y is a gate type)
Butterfly – used on large pump intakes, have a flat
gate that rotates via a quarter turn handle
Clapper – used in siamese applicances to allow
unidirectional flow, operate via hinged disk
 Fire Hoses
Valve Devices
Wye Appliance – split one inlet line into 2 outlet lines,
usually smaller, often valved
Siamese Appliance – join 2 or 3 inlet lines into one outlet
lines, often with clapper valves, used to overcome friction
loss
Water Thief – variation of a wye, one inlet with same-size
outlet and 2 smaller outlets
LDH appliances – used to distribute water from large
diameter hose (LDH) to working lines
Hydrant Valves – used to separate open hydrant from hose,
allows hoses to be connected and disconnected without
shutting off the hydrant
Fire Hoses
 Fire Hoses
Fittings
Reducers – allows different size hoses to be
connected (long hose runs)
Double adapters – come in double male and
double female, allow hoses to be connected when
both couplings are of the same sex
Elbows – allow hoses to be sharply redirected
Caps, Plugs – close off hose or appliance ends
 Fire Hoses
Intake Devices
Strainers
Come in several varieties
Used to prevent debris / organic materials from
being ingested into the pumping systems
 Fire Hoses
Tools
Hose Roller – used to protect hoses from sharp
edges while dragging
Hose Jacket – appliance used to repair ruptured
hoses while under pressure
Hose Clamp – used to stop the flow of water
Hose Bridge / Chafing Block – used to protect
hoses from abrasion
Hose strap / rope / chain – used to aid in carrying
or handling a charge line
Fire Hoses
 Fire Hoses
Hose Rolls
Straight Roll
Start at the male end
Roll flat to female end
Flatten any uneven coils
Roll backward (male out)
to denote a bad hose –
mark with a tag when
possible
 Fire Hoses
Hose Rolls
Donut Roll
Both ends are exposed
Fold male end up to about
3ft SHORT of the female end
Start rolling at the folded
end
Once rolled, hose can be
deployed in place
 Fire Hoses
Hose Rolls
Twin Donut Roll
Bring both ends together,
side by side
Flatten the folded end and
roll
If couplings are offset by a
foot or so, they can be
connected
 Fire Hoses
Hose Rolls
Self-Locking Twin Donut
Roll
Start just like Twin Roll
When flattening folded end,
make a flat loop about 3ft
wide
Roll with flat loop at center
Interlock loop ends to make
a handle
 Fire Hoses
Hose Loads
Accordion Load
Hose lays on edge
Packs across flat bed
Can allow access to either
end
Good for any type of lay
 Fire Hoses
Hose Loads
Horseshoe Load
Hose lays on edge
Packs around edge of bed
Fewer sharp bends
Tends to fall off truck
Only provides access to
one end, for one type of
lay
 Fire Hoses
Hose Loads
Flat Load
Hose lays flat
Easy to load
Easy to pull / shoulder
carry
Can be loaded in split bed
Only provides access to
one end
 Fire Hoses
Hose Lays
Forward lay
Hose is laid from water
source to the fire
Female coupling is
unloaded first
Allows a hydrant team to
stay at the source and the
pumper to advance to the
fire scene
 Fire Hoses
Hose Lays
Reverse lay
Hose is laid from the fire
to the water supply
Male coupling is unloaded
first
Allows an attack team to
stay at the scene and the
pumper to move to the
water source
 Fire Hoses
Hose Lays
Split lay
Term used in many
ways
Any lay composed of
both a forward and
reverse lay
 Fire Hoses
Advancing Hoselines
Always work in teams
Entry teams on 2½in lines should have 3
or 4 persons on the line
Firefighters should be on the same side of
the hose
Try to hoist a hose by rope if possible
rather than ladder carry
 Fire Hoses
Advancing Hoselines
Ladder Advances – Uncharged line
One firefighter at the ground feeds the hose
Firefighter(s) on ladder shoulder carry the line
Ladder Advances – Charged line
Several firefighters lock in or belt off on the
ladder – within arms reach of each other
The hose is then pushed upward from
firefighter to firefighter
Fire Hoses
Remember
Safety First