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Equipment

Hose Operations

Hose terminology, complement, preconnects, hose bed layouts, and hydrant operations.

Hose Terminology

Advancing a Line

To move a hose line forward.

Booster Line

Also called redline. Reinforced, rubber-covered, rubber-lined hose mounted on apparatus on a reel, used for small fires.

Break a Line

To disconnect hose lines for any purpose; disconnect hose coupling.

Charged Line

A line of hose loaded with water under pressure and prepared for use.

Extend

Add additional hose to a length that has already been laid.

Fire Stream

A stream of water from a fire nozzle used to control and combat fires.

Flake

Placing hose on the ground prior to charging, done to avoid kinks when charged.

Forward Lay / Straight Lay

Hose laid from the hydrant or water source towards the fire.

Handline

Small hose lines which can be handled and maneuvered by firefighters.

Hooking Up

Connecting a fire department pumper to a hydrant and to the discharge hose.

Jumper

A short length of hose.

Kink

A sharp bend in fire hose that restricts flow of water.

Lay / Lead

To lay hose in a predetermined sequence either from a hydrant towards the fire (forward lay) or from the fire to the water source (reverse lay).

Line

Usually refers to a length of hose; also used in reference to a rope or life line.

Master Stream

A large stream too heavy for conventional manual operation. 400-1,200 gpm or more.

Preconnect

A procedure where hose is already connected to the outlet of the pump to expedite hose operations.

Reverse Lay

Hose laid from the fire or structure to the water source.

School Yard

Remove hose from bed and advance towards fire until enough hose has been obtained. Proper fittings and additional attack hose are required.

Stretch Hose

To lay out hose (stretch a line).

Take a Lead

The leadoff firefighter dismounts engine, removes and anchors the 4-way with sufficient hose. After the engine proceeds from the hydrant to the fire, the leadoff firefighter connects the 4-way to hydrant and charges line when directed by the engineer.

Preconnects

Name	Length	Nozzle
Bumper	100' of 1 3/4"	150 GPM @ 50 PSI fog nozzle
Cross-lay #1	150' of 1 3/4"	150 GPM @ 50 PSI fog nozzle
Cross-lay #2	200' of 1 3/4"	150 GPM @ 50 PSI fog nozzle
Red Line	200' of 1"	50 GPM @ 200 PSI fog nozzle

Rear Hose Bed Layout

Attack Side:

Static Load (2 1/4"): 500' of 2 1/4" hose (three wide, bottom last female coupling exposed, left side) with a 1 1/8" smoothbore nozzle or a 250 GPM @ 50 PSI fog nozzle. Last 50' in a horseshoe load.

Combination Load: 200' of 2 1/2" hose (two wide, bottom last female coupling exposed, left side) to a 2 1/4" to 1 1/2" bell reducer to 300' of 1 3/4" hose (three wide) with a 7/8" (160 GPM) smoothbore nozzle or a 150 GPM @ 50 PSI fog nozzle. (Combination equals 500 feet) Last 50' in a horseshoe load.

Supply Side:

3" Supply: 500' of 3" hose, male coupling pointed out. Used as a pumped supply line for FDC, Master Streams, Ground Monitors, Stand Pipe and Ladder Pipe operations. Utilize double female to attach to 4" hose for long leads.

4" Primary Supply: 800' of 4" hose with Humat Valve and Mucker Strap, four wide. This 4" hose is to be used as the primary supply line and all forward lay operations will utilize it.

Standpipe Bundles

(3) 50' sections of 2 1/2" hose with a 1 1/8" smoothbore nozzle, interior threaded for 5/8" tip.
(1) Standpipe equipment bag: 15 wood door chocks (min), 3" to 2 1/2" pyrolite reducer, 60° 2 1/2" F to M elbow, inline pressure gauge, 1 1/2" to 2 1/2" pyrolite increaser, 5/8" tip. (No gated wyes)
(1) 100' bundle of 1 3/4" hose with a 7/8" smoothbore nozzle with a 2 1/2" to 1 1/2" bell reducer attached.

Hydrant Commands & Buzzer Signals

WATER! (Calling for water, in conjunction with hand signal)
WATER COMING! (Receiving call for water, in conjunction with hand signal)

Apparatus Buzzer Commands:

Beeps	Meaning
1	STOP
2	GO
3	BACK UP

Sending the Engine:

2 BEEPS
VERBAL COMMAND "LAY LINE!"
HAND SIGNAL
All done while in line of sight with engineer in driver side mirror

ELKHART RAM-XD

Quick deployable master stream

Lead

Requires single 3"

Flow

500 gpm

Weight

20 lbs

Tip Size

1 3/8"

Inlet

2 1/2" inlet and discharge couplings

Pump At

90 psi to the appliance

Friction Loss

20 psi per 100' of 3" / 40 psi per 100' of 2 1/2"

Stream Reach

180-200' (twice the reach and flow of a 2 1/2" handline)

With stabilizers extended the force of the nozzle reaction will hold the monitor in place.
Try to ensure 20' of straight hose feeding into the RAM XD for best stream and stability.
Flow is controlled with the bale like a hose-line unlike a ground monitor where flow is controlled at the pump panel.
Maintains the Deck-Gun as an option during the fire.

Radio Operations

Ladder Operations