The Fresno Fire Department shall test all fire hose annually

TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT MANUAL
HOSE PRACTICES
301.004 SUPPLY LINES / WATER SUPPLY
EFFECTIVE: OCTOBER 2007
Department engines and water tenders are equipped to pump water from a pressure
source such as a fire hydrant or from a static source such as a canal, portable water
tank or any other accessible body of water.
Engines may take water from fire hydrants utilizing a pre-connected front suction,
2-1/2-inch or 5-inch hose. The 5-inch large diameter hose (LDH) should be the
primary supply line and should be used whenever possible. The 2-1/2-inch hose
should be used to supply water to an engine only when 5-inch hose is not available,
when taking water from a tender or the tank of another engine, or when additional
water is needed. Engines must use a hard-suction hose to take water from a static
source. During relay pumping operations, one or more engines pump water from a
source to an engine operating at the fire ground.
HYDRANT HOOK-UP
Some Department engines are equipped with front-suction hose. The front-suction
hose is a 15-foot length of 4-1/2 or 6-inch, double-jacketed hose. It is pre-connected
to a pump inlet at the front of the engine. The front-suction hose is used to connect
an engine to a fire hydrant and is loaded so that it can be deployed by one
firefighter.
Instructions.
1. Spot the engine at the proper location, adjacent to the hydrant.
2. Grasp the coupling with both hands and pull the coupling out of the hose
compartment.
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3. Remove all hose from the hose compartment and place on the ground
(Figure 1).
Figure 1
4. Secure appropriate hydrant wrench, remove cap, and flush hydrant.
5. Connect the hose to the hydrant (Figure 2).
Figure 2
6. Open the hydrant.
LARGE-DIAMETER HOSE (LDH)
The Department utilizes 5-inch hose primarily as a supply line. These largediameter hoses are referred to as LDH. The 5-inch hose can be deployed as a
supply line by the procedures described in this section.
The 5-inch hose may be deployed by manually advancing (hand jacking) the hose
from the hose compartment to the water supply or by deploying the hose from the
hose compartment while the engine proceeds to the desired location.
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Advancing 5-Inch Supply Lines
The 5-inch hose can be advanced from the engine to a water source, usually a fire
hydrant, by following the procedures for advancing 5-inch hose described in this
manual under "Advancing 5-Inch Hose,” Section 301.005.
When advancing 5-inch hose to a hydrant, the firefighter advancing the first coupling
must take the proper hydrant wrench in order to connect the hose to the hydrant and
open the hydrant. If the firefighter is unaware of what type of wrench will be needed,
both wrenches should be brought.
After the hose has been extended to the hydrant, a firefighter at the engine must
uncouple the hose from the remaining hose in the hose bed and connect it to the
4-1/2-inch gated inlet valve at the pump panel.
The hose clamp can be used, if necessary, to facilitate making the connection to the
gated inlet.
Laying 5-Inch Supply Lines
The 5-inch hose is typically deployed in one of three ways: a forward lay, a reverse
lay, or a split lay.
In a forward lay hose is deployed from the fire hydrant to the fire, a reverse lay is
when the hose is deployed from the fire to the hydrant, and a split lay is a
combination of the two. In a split lay, one engine performs a forward lay, deploying
hose from a specific location (a driveway, an intersection, etc.) to the fire. Typically,
a second engine connects to the female end of the deployed hose, using a
4-1/2-inch double male, and performs a reverse lay from this location to the water
source. This type of deployment can be utilized in areas with long driveways or
locations where hydrants and/or water supplies are not easily accessed.
An engine company can either lay its own supply line or be directed to lay a supply
line (feeder) for another engine company. If directed to supply another engine,
either a forward or a reverse lay can be utilized.
Forward Lay
Instructions.
1. Stop the engine near the fire hydrant.
2. Remove the appropriate hydrant wrench.
3. Grasp the coupling and/or LDH strap and advance the 5-inch hose to the
hydrant.
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4. Make one complete loop around the hydrant with the hose. Hold the
hose tightly while the engine proceeds to the desired location (Figure 1).
Figure 1
5. Remove the hose from around the hydrant, flush the hydrant, connect the
hose to the hydrant, and open the hydrant when directed to do so.
6. Take the hydrant wrench and proceed to the engine. Remove any kinks
in the hose. Leave the hydrant wrench with the pump operator.
Note:
When an engine company lays a 5-inch supply line from
a hydrant, it may elect to direct another company to
connect the supply line to the hydrant while it proceeds to
the desired location with a full complement of members.
If another company is directed to connect the supply line, the hydrant
wrench must be left at the hydrant.
7. When the engine has reached the desired location, uncouple the hose
from the remaining hose in the hose bed and connect it to the 4-1/2-inch
gated inlet valve at the pump panel (Figure 2).
Figure 2
Note: The supply line may be connected to another engine
already pumping.
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A hose clamp can be used, if necessary, to facilitate making the
connection to the gated inlet.
Reverse Lay
Instructions.
1. Stop the engine near the engine in need of the supply line.
2. Grasp the coupling and/or LDH strap and advance the 5-inch hose to the
4-1/2-inch gated inlet at the pump panel of the receiving engine
(Figure 3).
Figure 3
3. Go back to the hose bed, pulling a few folds of LDH onto the ground.
Grasp the hose where it comes out of the hose bed. Step to the outside
of the apparatus and make visual contact with the apparatus operator.
As the engine proceeds toward the water supply, the hose will deploy
from the hose bed (Figure 4).
Figure 4
4. Attach the 4-1/2-inch double-male coupling to the 4-1/2-inch hose
coupling.
5. Connect the hose and double-male coupling to the gated inlet valve
(Figure 5).
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Figure 5
6. When the engine laying the hose reaches the desired hydrant, uncouple
the appropriate amount of hose needed to reach the hydrant.
7. Attach the 4-1/2-inch, double-female coupling to the hose.
8. Flush the hydrant and connect the hose and the double-female coupling
to the hydrant (Figure 6).
Figure 6
9. Open the hydrant when directed to do so.
Deploying 5-Inch Hose Rolls
The 5-inch by 50-foot hose roll is primarily used to connect an engine to a water
source such as a fire hydrant or another apparatus.
It may be connected directly to a hydrant when the hydrant is within 50 feet of the
inlet valve.
It may also be used when laying a supply line. When the distance between the
nearest coupling and the inlet valve or the hydrant is less than 50 feet, the 5-inch
hose roll can be used in place of an additional 100-foot length of hose to connect the
supply line. Using the 5-inch hose can reduce excessive hose near the engine or
the hydrant.
Instructions.
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1. Remove the 5-inch hose roll from the compartment.
2. Place the hose roll on the ground in an upright position.
3. Grasp both couplings.
4. Rapidly lift both couplings allowing the hose to unroll (Figure 7).
Figure 7
5. Attach the male coupling to the pump inlet valve.
6. Flush the hydrant and attach the female coupling to the hydrant or the
supply line.
PORTABLE TANK DEPLOYMENT
The portable tank is utilized for long-duration fire suppression efforts when no other
reasonable water supply is available. This deployment should be supported by two
or more water tenders (WT) engaged in a water shuttle supply operation. The
portable tank can also be utilized in case of a multi-system failure within the WT
pump delivery system.
Instructions.
1. Confirm the deployment site with the incident commander (IC).
2. Clear deployment site of any debris that may cut or damage the tank.
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3. Deploy a ground tarp (Figure 1).
Figure 1
4. Acquire assistance and remove portable tank from apparatus (Figure 2).
Figure 2
5. Deliver tank to deployment site (give consideration to the location of
drafting apparatus near tank).
6. Remove containment straps, unroll tank, and remove protective covers
from the outlet fittings. Place items in the WT compartment (Figure 3).
Figure 3
7. Deploy 6-inch hard-suction hose, one or two lengths depending on the
necessity.
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8. Deploy the low-profile suction strainer and attach to the portable tank’s
interior fitting (Figure 4).
Figure 4
9. Rotate the portable tank until the outlet faces the source pumper.
10. Couple the 6-inch hard suction to the portable tank’s exterior fitting
(Figure 5).
Figure 5
11. Reposition tank and ground tarp if needed.
12. Close “tank to pump” valve on source pumper and remove the 6-inch
intake cap with a rubber mallet (Figures 6, 7 and 8).
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Note:
All NCFD Apparatus’ tank to pump valves are “in-open” and
“out-closed” (Figure 6).
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
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13. Couple the 6-inch hard suction to the source pumper (Figure 9).
Figure 9
14. Consider the engine exhaust direction and reposition, if needed.
15. Pull out all fabric folds from the bottom of the tank. Bottom must be flat,
with no wrinkles, to achieve maximum volume.
16. Position the rear of the water tender within four feet of the portable tank,
and attach the quick-dump extension (Figures 10 and 11).
Figure 10
Figure 11
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17. Utilizing a backer, position the quick-dump extension inside the top lip (the
white ring) of the portable tank 6-inches to 8-inches (Figure 12).
Figure 12
18. Place a traffic cone on the ground at the WT’s driver’s side rear
(Figure 13).
Figure 13
19. Open dump valve slowly until the tank stabilizes (approximately first
100 gallons), close dump valve, and assess the need to re-dress the
bottom of the tank.
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20. Confirm that the portable tank will not fill and rise underneath the rear
bumper of the WT (Figure 14).
Figure 14
21. Place one 4-inch x 4-inch cribbing under the 6-inch hard suction at the
tank side within 6 inches of the coupling (Figure 15).
Figure 15
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22. Care should be taken to not overrun the portable tank’s upper ring
(Figure 16).
Figure 16
23. Reposition the traffic cone to the rear-most bumper stopping point for the
next WT dump operation.
24. Advise the source pumper operator to begin drafting operations.
25. Advise IC and Operations of tank deployment and WT selected re-filling
location.
RELAY OPERATIONS
Relay pumping operations are used to pump water over long distances using two or
more engines.
The objective of relay pumping operations is to satisfactorily supply an adequate
volume of water at the appropriate pressure required for effective fire streams over
distances beyond which a single engine can efficiently operate.
Water is pumped from a pumper (source pumper) at a water source to a pumper
(fire pumper) at the fire scene. Sometimes, the water is pumped to one or more
pumpers (intermediate pumper) located between the source pumper and the fire
pumper.
The Department uses 5-inch hose for relay operations. The hose can be deployed
from the fire pumper to the source pumper (reverse lay) or from the source pumper
to the fire pumper (forward lay).
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Reverse Lay
Instructions.
1. Stop the engine near the fire pumper.
2. Grasp the coupling and/or LDH strap and advance the 5-inch hose to the
4-1/2-inch gated inlet at the pump panel of the fire pumper.
3. Go back to the hose bed, pulling a few folds of LDH onto the ground.
Grasp the hose where it comes out of the hose bed. Step to the outside
of the apparatus and make visual contact with the apparatus operator.
As the engine proceeds toward the water supply, the hose will deploy
from the hose bed.
4. The pump operator of the fire pumper shall connect the 5-inch hose to the
4-1/2-inch gated inlet, utilizing the 4-1/2-inch double-male coupling.
5. The intermediate pumpers (if needed to reach the water source) shall lay
the 5-inch hose from the fire pumper, in the desired direction, until all the
hose is deployed.
6. Connect the 5-inch hose, laid from the fire pumper, to the 4-1/2-inch
discharge valve (Figure 8).
Figure 8
7. Successive pumpers shall follow the above procedures, laying 5-inch
hose from the 4-1/2-inch gated inlet of the intermediate engine until
sufficient hose has been laid to reach a water source.
8. The source pumper shall connect to the water source and supply water to
the fire pumper or intermediate pumper through the 5-inch hose.
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Forward Lay
Instructions.
1. The source pumper shall connect to the water source.
2. Intermediate pumpers, if needed, shall lay the 5-inch hose from the
4-1/2-inch discharge valve of the source pumper toward the fire pumper
until all the hose is deployed.
3. Connect the 5-inch hose, laid from the source pumper, to the 4-1/2-inch
inlet valve.
4. Successive pumpers shall follow the above procedures, laying 5-inch
hose from the 4-1/2-inch discharge valve of the intermediate engine until
sufficient hose has been laid to reach the desired location.
An engine laying the hose may receive the water and deploy fire streams
or may lay the hose to a pumper already in position to deliver fire streams.
DRAFTING OPERATIONS
Normally, Department engines take water from fire hydrants to supply fire streams.
Sometimes incidents happen where there are no hydrants; therefore, each engine is
equipped to draft water from a static water source such as a canal.
All engines and water tenders are equipped with two 10-foot lengths of 4-1/2-inch or
6-inch hard-suction hose with suction strainers to prevent foreign materials from
entering the pump.
Hard-suction hose can either be connected to the 4-1/2-inch or 6-inch inlet valve on
the pump panel side or to the suction inlet on the right side of the engine. In some
cases a cap must be removed if using the right side of the apparatus.
Instructions.
1. Remove the hard-suction hoses and attach the suction strainer.
2. Connect the suction hoses together (Figure 9). Remember to check the
hose gaskets.
3. Connect the strainer to the hard-suction hose (Figure 10). Attach a rope
to the strainer.
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Figure 9
Figure 10
4. After the hoses and strainer are assembled, connect the suction hose to
the desired suction inlet (if you have to remove an inlet cap, close the tank
to pump valve before removal).
5. Tighten all couplings with a rubber mallet, and confirm all by-passes and
bleeders are fully closed.
6. Lower the hose and strainer into the water. The strainer should be at
least two feet below the surface and have enough clearance below the
strainer to prevent foreign material from clogging the strainer.
7. Tie the rope to hold the strainer in the desired position.
8. Prime the pump. Refer to Training and Equipment Manual 303.1, “Prime
Pump and/or Engineers’ IPE No. 305”.
I.S.O. DRILL
When firefighting efforts are being carried out in areas lacking adequate water
supply, on-scene members must make concessions for a continuous flow of water in
order to provide safety for fire attack crews. This may be accomplished in many
different ways (as discussed in this section). One such way is to set up a portable
tank and drafting operation that will supply the fire attack pumper. The “ISO Drill” is
used to evaluate the ability of a fire department to set up a continuous water supply
of at least 250 gpm at any area within their covered district(s). Furthermore, this
continuous supply must last for at least two hours.
Instructions
1. Engine A has five minutes from arrival to set up discharge and supply
lines and begin pumping.
2. The first water tender on scene ties into Engine A’s supply line and
supplies Engine A.
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3. The second engine (Engine B or Engine C) sets up to draft from the PortA-Tank off of Water Tender 1’s supply and ties into Engine A’s second
supply line at 40-45 EP.
4. Water Tender 2 fills the Port-A-Tank and departs to the nearest water
supply.
5. The third engine can be on scene for support or can go to the water
source to set up supply hose.
6. When empty, Water Tender 1 (supply) disconnects and goes to the water
source to fill. The drafting engine should begin to supply Engine A before
the water tender disconnects.
7. The best scenario for the water tender/Port-A-Tank shuttle operation
would be to stagger the water tenders (i.e., one water tender filling the
Port-A-Tank while the other is refilling at the source).
WATER SHUTTLE
Water shuttle operations involve water tenders moving large quantities of water
between a dumpsite and a fill site. It is recommended for distances greater than
one-half mile; or greater than the Department’s capability of laying supply hose lines.
There are two procedures: Shuttling from a hydrant and shuttling from a static water
supply (i.e., ponds, pools, Port-A-Tank, canals).
Choosing the appropriate
procedure will be at the sole discretion of the officer in charge.
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Water Shuttle From a Hydrant
The first-arriving water tender will deploy a Port-A-Tank and fill it. Once the water
tender tank has been emptied it will proceed to the nearest hydrant.
1. At the hydrant, position the apparatus (the rear 4-1/2-inch direct fill should
be accessible if so equipped).
2. Deploy LDH fill line, connect one end to 4-1/4-inch direct fill or inlet, and
the other end to the hydrant using the 4-1/2-inch. (Approximate fill time is
two minutes.)
3. Once water tender is full, disconnect from 4-1/2-inch direct fill or inlet
leaving fill line attached to the hydrant so that it may be used by the next
arriving apparatus.
4. Proceed back to fire scene and repeat shuttling procedure as needed.
Water Shuttle From a Static Water Supply
The first-arriving water tender will deploy a Port-A-Tank and fill it. Once the tank has
been emptied it will proceed to the pumper/engine that has been designated to the
water supply (lake, pond, canal, etc.).
1. Once at draft site, designated pumper/engine should fill empty water
tender using LDH fill line to 4-1/2-inch direct fill if possible. If not, multiple
2-1/2-inch lines may be used to minimize fill time.
2. Approximate fill time for one 2-1/2-inch line is seven minutes.
3. Once water tender is full, disconnect line(s), return to the fire scene and
repeat shuttle procedures as needed.
Estimating Effectiveness of Water Shuttle
In order to estimate the effectiveness of a water shuttle the IC or water officer can
use the following formula:
gpm =
Tank Size – 10%
Trip Time
Trip time: Trip time is = travel time + handling time.
Travel time can be estimated using the following formula (this is dependent on the
type and capacity of the water tender):
Travel time in minutes = 0.65 + (1.7) (distance in miles)
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Note:
The above formula assumes an average travel speed of 35 mph and
a built-in constant for acceleration and deceleration at the fill/dump
site.
Considerations
1. The incident commander or the officer in charge shall determine all fire
ground actions.
2. Filling of the water tender should be done through the rear 4-1/2-inch
direct fill if possible for faster fill time.
3. If a Port-A-Tank is not in use or is unavailable, water tender will supply the
engine assigned to fire attack directly. Once the water tender is empty, it
will continue to use the procedures listed above. (Multiple water tenders
will be needed for this operation.)
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