It’s All in the Preconnects
WATER SUPPLY
Preconnecting as many of the pumper’s hose lines as possible makes sense, since it will save valuable seconds on the fireground.
Most apparatus in the United States carry two or three preconnected hose lines. Why? Because that’s the way it came from the factory. Hose sizes are traditionally 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 inches. The nozzles flow 95 gpm and 250 gpm. The hose lengths are 150 to 200 feet.
Often, this type of pumper and the community’s needs don’t match. One way of increasing the efficiency of these vehicles is to preconnect every possible operation. Is it possible to preconnect all of your fire attack needs? Many departments throughout the country have. However, one common complaint is, “We don’t have the manning necessary to operate all those preconnects.”
Why multiple preconnects with minimum manning? If your engine, like hundreds around the country, only carries two 200-foot preconnects and you need a 300-foot line, you’ll be forced into a “make-and-break” drill. At an alarm for a structural fire at two o’clock in the morning is not the time to refine your muster evolutions. You can pull a 300-foot preconnect in seconds—if you have one! How long does it take to make a 300 footer on the fireground? Too long with today’s fires and building construction. If you use both of your preconnects to make one line, where will your back-up come from? Good grief, not another “make-and-break” drill! No wonder small fires get out of hand.
Why multiple preconnects? Let’s say the incident is 200 feet from the pumper but you pull your hose to the wrong door. Instead of dragging that same hose to the correct door, you just go back to the engine and pull the second 200-foot preconnect. It saves time, you won’t look like a fool in public and, better yet, you’ll save your energy for the fire.
How long does it take to replace a burst section of hose? Probably long enough to make a real large fire! The alternative is another preconnect of the same length. How about the fire at which both of your preconnects are in use and Mr. Jones comes over and tells you his house 250 feet down the street is burning due to a flying brand. A third preconnect can deal with the situation with one firefighter! There are endless reasons for multiple preconnects with or without minimum manning.
How many preconnects? Many fire service leaders suggest two everyday preconnects (150 to 200 feet) and two long lines (250 to 300 feet) should be the minimum. Orlando, FL; Syracuse, NY; and Schurz, NV, are all examples of multiple preconnect-only departments. In all three cases, mobile 1 3/4-inch blitz lines with automatic nozzles are all that are used. That’s right, one size interior attack line! If one doesn’t get the job done, then another is pulled. If it’s obvious that an interior attack is not working, then multiple master streams, supplied by large diameter hose, bring the fire to its knees. Talk about simplifying the fireground. Training is easy. Either pull the long or the short blitz line! Most firefighters realized generations ago that 2 1/2-inch hose was not their weapon of choice when a mobile high-flow line was needed. That’s why progressive departments all across the United States are using 1 3/4 or 2-inch blitz lines with high-flow automatic nozzles. Does this sound like an idea whose time has come in your community?
Some departments that have very unusual garden apartment complexes might find a 400-foot plus preconnect essential. Remember, the longer the line, the lower the flow. Based on a pump pressure of 200 psi, a 1 1/2-inch hose will flow only 85 gpm, 1 3/4-inch hose will flow 145 gpm, and 2-inch hose will flow 255 gpm. Large diameter attack lines are essential on ultra-long preconnects to compensate for friction loss. (If you’re not sure what size attack line is best for you, see FIRE ENGINEERING, February 1984.)
We would like to think that preplumbed removable monitors are standard equipment; however, this isn’t the case. Not enough can be said for the value of such appliances. A few well-placed gallons of water on arrival can do more than several thousand gallons a few moments later. Every initial attack engine should be equipped with at least one monitor.
If you’re not into hydraulics and want the best possible stream at all times, an automatic nozzle with a flow range of 150 to 1,000 gpm is a must. If you intend to flow more than 1,000 gpm, then you should carry 2, 2 ¼, and 2 1/2-inch tips. Above all, whatever type of monitor you choose, it’s best to use one without handwheel steering. It’s almost impossible to effectively sweep a fire while turning two handwheels. This is especially true if you’re pumping from the water tank. You can’t afford to waste water. I strongly recommend a removable master stream. You may not want to park in front of the fire. As someone once said, “He who panics first lives to tell about it.” Some fires should be watched through binoculars and sprayed with a high-flow, large diameter, hose-supplied master stream! Remember, life is your first priority, normally yours first! Whenever possible, multiple handlines should be siamesed into monitors.
If you use portable monitors, large diameter hose (LDH) simplifies the setup and supply. Instead of using three or four 2 1/2-inch supply lines, use one LDH. The flow will be higher, your engine pressure lower, and you can place the stream in service in one third of the time it takes to set up 2 1/2-inch lines.
Many departments have proven these concepts. How can your department take it even further? How abbut a preconnected attack line? Or possibly two? An attack line is a 2 1/2-inch, 3-inch, or larger hose line that is preconnected with a lightweight portable monitor attached. From 3-inch hose, you can expect flows of 1,000 gpm on a 100-foot line, and 700 gpm on a 250-foot line. That’s right, a high-flow, selfcontrolled back-up for your 1 1/2, 1 3/4, 2, or 2 1/2-inch attack lines. Think about it. Your first-in engine with a crew of three pulls a 200-foot 1 3/4-inch line flowing 210 gpm. Two firefighters advance the line, call for water and then the pump operator charges the lines. The pump operator then fortifies their position by pulling another 1 3/4-inch line or, if the hazard warrants it, a handline of larger diameter.
Another scenario: A fully-involved structure, threateeing buildings on each of its four sides. Your first action would be to drop a large-diameter supply line and attack the fire with a preplumbed monitor on sides one and two. One firefighter pulls the pre-connected LDH to protect sides three and four. Presto! You’ve surrounded the building with two master streams! How is this accomplished? By placing your streams on opposite corners of the involved structure. In less than two minutes, you can sustain up to 2,000 gpm with three firefighters! If it sounds like real life, it can be, with the proper preconnects. Ideally, a long and a short preconnect should be carried.
Does your department protect sprinklered structures? How about buildings with standpipe systems? If so, have you thought about preconnects for those structures? Many innovative departments have! That’s right, a pair of 2 1/2 or 2-inch lines without nozzles are preconnected to attach directly to the fire department connection. A few very progressive departments have a single LDH preconnected to do the same job better. Some have gone even further by having Storz fittings on their sprinklered or standpiped buildings. This allows fast high-volume supply of these systems. A common evolution at a fire would be: The first engine drops an LDH feed line in position at the fire department connection and supplies it with their preconnect. Sound simple? It is!
Some departments are requiring, through building codes and, in some instances, retrofitting, that the fire department connection be at the front entrance of all protected structures.
