Hose Evolution

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SOUTHERN AREA WILDLAND ENGINE ACADEMY
Hose Evolution
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Objectives

• Be familiar with the types of hose used in
  wildland fire agencies.
• Know the proper care of hose.
• Understand the simple and progressive hose lay.
• Understand the various methods for packing and
  storing hose.
• Be able to pack and deploy hose packs.

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Types of Hose

• Cotton jacket rubber lined (CJRL)
• Cotton/synthetic rubber lined
• Unlined linen
• Synthetic jacket
• Booster hose
• Garden hose
• Suction hose
• Low pressure fill hose

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Care of Hose

• Hose life depends on exposure to or protection
  from
• Heat
• Mold and mildew
• Chemicals
• Mechanical injury
• Excess Pressure

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Care of Hose

• Heat
• Weakens hose jacket.
• Chars, melts, or dries our rubber liner.
• May cause jacket to separate from liner.
• Melts synthetic hoses.
• When laying out hose, put it well outside the
  line or move hose outside line when not in use.
  Avoid drying hose on asphalt.

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Care of Hose

• Mold and mildew
• Occurs when water is allowed to remain in jacket.
• Mold will attack and weaken the jacket.
• Hose should be drained, cleaned, and dried as
  soon as possible after use, then stored in a
  clean dry place.

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Care of Hose

• Chemicals
• Chemicals and petroleum products are absorbed
  through the jacket and attack the liner, as well
  as the gaskets in the couplings.
• Small amounts of water left in the hose will
  react with the liner to create a mildly acidic
  solution which will damage the jacket.
• All stored hoses should be drained.

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Care of Hose

• Mechanical injuries
• Abrasions from dragging.
• Cuts from sharp objects.
• Breaks from sharp bends.
• Driving over charged hoses.
• Mechanically pulling hose.
• Using hose to climb hills.
• Pressure surges from water hammers.

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Care of Hose

• Excess pressure
• Use only the amount of pressure needed to
  accomplish objectives.
• Pressure relief valves or leaving nozzles open
  are precautions against a build-up of pressure.
• Pressure testing should be included in the
  cleaning process.

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Care of Hose

• Cleaning hose
• It is important to periodically clean the
  exterior of the hose to prevent the jacket from
  degrading.
• Sand, grit, and ash can work their way into the
  hose covering, resulting in mechanically damage
  from abrasion.

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Care of Hose

• Drying hose
• Hose should be thoroughly dried both inside and
  out before storing to prevent mold and mildew
  growth
• Commercially and hand made systems are acceptable.

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Care of Hose

• Pressure testing hose
• Periodic testing of fire hose may include
  pressure testing.
• Visually inspect hose for signs of weakness
  before subjecting to a pressure test, and repair
  or discard damaged hose.
• There is a strong potential for accidents when
  testing hose under high hydrostatic pressure,
  ensure safety precautions are taken.
• NWCG publication, NFES 1308 suggested pressure
  testing procedure.

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Hose Packing

• Four common methods of packing hose
• Single rolled
• Double rolled
• Accordion lay
• Horseshoe lay

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Single Rolled

• Usually done with 50 foot sections.
• Beginning with male end, roll hose upon itself
  for its entire length.
• Fasten securely with rubber bands or rope.

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Double Rolled

• Usually done with 100 foot sections, so rolls
  will fit in engine compartments.
• Lay the hose doubled, each half laying side by
  side.
• Male and female ends should not be same length.
• Roll hose so two rolls are being created.
• When roll is complete, tuck in male end and
  secure with rubber band or string.

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Accordion Lay

• Start with female end.
• Lay hose forward until desired length is reached.
• Fold the hose back down alongside itself and then
  forward again, alternating folds (One long and
  one short).
• The last few layers can be shortened to allow
  room for a nozzle.

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Horseshoe Lay

• Start with female end.
• Lay hose around in a U shape.
• Fold hose back around to the beginning, laying it
  alongside the previous lay.
• Stagger the length of the folds.
• Continue until desired amount of hose is used, as
  well last few folds may be shortened to allow
  room for a nozzle.

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Hose Lay Systems

• Hose lays are used to deliver water from a source
  to the point where it is needed.
• The type of lay used is determined by four
  factors
• Terrain
• Access
• Effectiveness
• Safety

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Hose Lay Systems

• Simple hose lay
• Hose lay that comes straight off the pump and
  goes directly to the nozzle with no junctions in
  between.
• Progressive hose lay
• Hose lay that comes from a pump source to the
  fire which has a series of lateral junctions in
  place between the pump and lead nozzle.

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Simple Hose Lay

• Disadvantages
• Water flow must be stopped before another length
  of hose can be extended
• No provisions for safety should fire flare up
  behind nozzle operator
• Difficult in mop-up as must pull large amount of
  hose

• Advantages
• Easy to install
• Vary in length as needed
• Low friction loss

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Progressive Hose Lay

• Advantages
• Provides for a continuous attack on a fire
  without shutting down hose to extend.
• Provides a security margin for lead nozzle
  operator.
• Provide multiple attack lines.
• More efficient mop-up.

• Disadvantages
• Has higher friction loss due to added appliances.
• Slower to install
• Requires more planning on installation.

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Hose Packs

• Types of hose packs
• Jarbo Pack
• Gansner Pack (Progressive)
• Plumas Pack (Progressive)
• Maze Pack (Progressive)
• Virginia Pack (Progressive)

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Jarbo Pack

• Trunk line supply pack
• Components -
• 200 feet of 1 1/2 hose
• One 1 1/2 gated wye
• One 1 1/2 nozzle

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Jarbo Pack

• Pack used to lay a trunk line to a fire a long
  distance from the pump, lay a line between pumps
  or to add onto simple 1 1/2 attack lines.
• Release knots allow pack to be divided into 2 100
  foot packs or deploy entire 200 feet.
• Pack can be deployed charged or uncharged.

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Gansner Pack

• Components
• One 100 foot section of 1 1/2 hose
• One 100 foot section of 1 hose
• One 1 1/2 gated wye
• One 1 1/2 NH to 1 NPSH reducer-adapter
• One 1 nozzle

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Gansner Pack

• Lateral is coiled and ready for deployment next
  to the wye, rather than strung out along the
  mainline.
• This allows the lateral line to be deployed
  without snagging on stobs, logs, ect.
• Mainline packed same as in the Jarbo.
• Once mainline is deployed, the line can be
  charged as long as wye is closed.

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Plumas Pack

• Components
• One 100 foot section of 1 1/2 hose
• One 100 foot section of 1 hose
• One 1 1/2 gate wye
• One 1 1/2 NH to 1 NPSH Reducer-adapter
• One 1 nozzle

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Plumas Pack

• Plumas Pack designed for maximum efficiency and
  safety in an attack hose pack.
• Pack lays off your back as you walk, leaving
  hands free.
• Mainline, fittings, laterals and nozzle are all
  preconnected.
• Hose lay is ready to charge immediately after it
  is laid out.
• Utilizes the safety quick release knot.

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Maze Hose Pack

• Components
• Four 100 foot 1 1/2 hoses

• Very quickly deploys 1 1/2 hose
• Often used in Alaska, Minnesota
• Long supply line

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Virginia Hose Pack

• Components
• Two 100 foot 1 1/2 hoses
• One 100 foot 1 hose
• One 1 1/2 gated wye
• One 1 1/2 to 1 reducer
• One 1 nozzle

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Hose Packs

• Tips
• Make knots as tight as possible.
• Practice makes perfect.
• Do not make packs shorter, as the shorter they
  are the weaker they are.
• Packs should be inspected over time if on an
  engine.
• Packs will hold up better if they are lying flat.
• In situations not requiring 100 protection, 100
  sections of 1 1/2 hose can be deployed to extent
  their reach for such as mop-up or during holding
  operations.

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Objectives

• Be familiar with the types of hose used in
  wildland fire agencies
• Know the proper care of hose
• Understand the simple and progressive hose lay
• Understand the various methods for packing and
  storing hose
• Be able to pack and deploy hose packs