Hose Deployment Inside the Box
An overview of a systematic
hose deployment system
By: Jesse Wooton
Many have said that the pre-connect has killed
our ability to estimate a hose stretch. Whether
that is true or not, there are several bigger
problems masked by a “one size fits” all
approach which you may not be aware of. This is
an overview of a simple system that will map out
your core stretches, directly off the engine, for
structure fires. While all of the concepts can be
applied to any hose bed configuration, the use
of bulk beds will be highlighted and contrasted
against pre-connects. Taking a closer look at how
you stretch short, long, flat and vertical will
identify both strengths and weaknesses.
Up until 2016, Palo Alto FD used flat loaded pre-
connected lines pulled across the ground, for the
vast majority of our stretches. Prior to a
complete overhaul of our hose bed, we actually
had 5 pre-connected 200’ lines as many of the
surrounding departments also do (or similar).
While this encapsulated many of our fires, it did
not reach them all, and we relied on either
extending pre-connected lines or building
longer lines out of wye’s and bundles. Even
when the line was long enough, we found
ourselves managing extra hose for shorter
stretches
If your engine is almost completely dependent
on pre-connects like ours was, you have to ask
yourself why?