At single- and multiple-family house fires, engine companies usually set up a forward-lay supply-line operation at the fire building, using a hydrant or alternative water supply (such as a tender or drop tank). The pre-connected hoselines used in these operations vary in length; therefore, firefighters must estimate how many sections might be required.
The drawback of not enough hose is obvious. But taking too much will make piles and create kinks in the line, as well as increase friction loss, thus increasing the required pump pressures.
Remember: Getting the first line into service may accomplish more for life safety than any other action taken on the fireground. As your apparatus is positioned at the fire building, you must be capable of formulating an estimate for the hose required to reach the seat of the fire.
There are myriad factors to consider:
- Distance from the engine to the fire building entrance;
- Distance from the entrance of the building to the fire;
- Length of hose needed to cover the fire area; and
- Elevation, obstacles and terrain.
Whether you use preconnects or static hosebeds, you must bear such features in mind as you formulate your attack.
From the Engine to the Fire Building
Engine companies typically position past or before the fire building in order to leave access for ladder companies. Positioned this way, at least one or two sections of hose are required to reach the front of the fire building. In most residential occupancies, one section of hose covers the distance from the front yard to the door (Figure 1). In multi-family occupancies and some private residences, the set-backs may be greater due to long access drives, limited access and courtyards. This will require much more hose to reach the entrance door (Figure 2).
When estimating the distance to the residence front door, factor in terrain features and obstacles on the exterior. You’ll need additional lengths of hose to overcome exterior stairs, hillsides and other construction features (Figure 3).
There could be many potential obstacles, and they may require stretching around objects, thus increasing the amount of hose required. Obstacles may include parked cars, fences, shrubbery, garbage containers, porch railings, ladder trucks and general junk. Often, you must stretch around ladders as they are positioned in front of a fire building. As we sometimes say, “You can always bend and stretch more hose, but you can’t stretch the ladder an inch.”
Sometimes, even before you consider the specifics of building height, size and layout, you know that the total amount of hose required will exceed the number of pre-connected sections available on the engine. Therefore, engine companies must have several options available to them and be prepared to battle fires in various occupancies and circumstances. Extreme set-backs and elevations will quickly overwhelm the hose available on a typical engine, especially if the fire is on upper floors.
A simple solution: A static hose bed of 2 ½” or similar-size hose with a gated wye or reducer to supply 1 ¾” hose that is deployed along with the 2 ½” hose. This evolution must be well understood and drilled on prior to deployment.
From the Entrance to the Fire Area
Generally speaking, one section of hose per floor in a single-family occupancy will provide a fire stream to all areas of the residence. More hose may be necessary in very large occupancies, but this is not as common.
In multi-family occupancies, the estimate gets a little trickier. Generally, you can use the estimate of one section of hose per floor of elevation, plus one section to cover the fire area or apartment. In buildings with standard return, scissor or wrap-around stairs, this is usually the case.
In buildings with a well-hole opening in the stair construction, this estimate should be adjusted to allow for one section of hose to stretch at least four stories. Ensure that the well-hole is large enough to allow for the vertical stretch of the hose when it is charged (Figure 4). A rule of thumb: The width of your hand is a little wider than your hose. Ensure that the hose is secured with a hose strap or webbing when it reaches the fire floor to prevent it from sliding back down through the well-hole.
Another consideration: long hallways in multi-family occupancies. You might encounter a distance of 50 to 100 feet from the stairwell to the apartment door. These distances must also be considered and, if possible, should be identified prior to the fire during fire inspections, preplanning functions and/or various non-fire responses.
Consider an average three-story apartment building. The distance from the street to the front door is approximately one section of hose. With a fire on the top floor, the engine company will safely require one section per floor and one to cover the apartment. This will require at least four sections of hose from the street–and this is without taking into consideration the location of engine company apparatus, which might require another section or two.
Too Much or Too Little?
There will be occasions when you come up too short or too long. An experienced driver will recognize these situations and either break a preconnect to connect it to a separate discharge, thus shortening the line, or add additional sections to the line at the engine to provide length.
If you stretch into an occupancy with too much hose you must find a place to flake it out. For fires on the first floor or below grade, it’s usually best to flake this hose on the exterior. Flake the hose so that it points directly into the door of the occupancy, rather than at an angle, to quicken your advance. For fires on upper floors, excess hose can be flaked on the floor below, in an apartment or other living space. Tip: If you come up short and can be afforded protection from products of combustion, it’s better to add hose to the end near the nozzle to avoid re-stretching multiple lengths of charged hose.
Take Time to Save Time
Estimating the amount of hose you’ll need requires planning, training and experience. Take opportunities on false alarms, non-fire and EMS responses and routine fire inspection duties to evaluate how you would get hose into the building and how much hose you would need. Sometimes, this evaluation might make you reconsider the layout of your engine company in order to make it more “battle ready” for the occupancies in your response district.
Remember: You don’t want to bring along too much hose; this makes for inefficient operations, slowing the application of water to the fire.
Getting the hoseline into service is our task. A proper estimate will speed the stretch, reduce friction loss, decrease the chance for kinks and allow you to deliver the most gpm. The bottom line: Train until you get it right.
