Fire Department Observation

While discussing loose equipment for an emergency apparatus purchase for the Waco Fire Department Chief Tatum advised the equipment committee that the department will replace our 1 ½” pre-connect line with 2” pre-connect line. Research was conducted by committee members to find the most appropriate hose and nozzle combination that will be the best fit for the Waco Fire Department. Some of the best information we gathered was during an inspections trip to Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wi. During this trip, we spoke with members of several departments from the Kinston and Cary, North Carolina and Salem New Hampshire, these departments recently added 2” pre-connects to their arsenal. Most importantly information was shared in regards to the evaluation and the need to find the perfect combination of hose and nozzle to garner the gallons per minute from the two-inch hose line, since the purpose of the increase in size from 1 ¾ “hose to 2” is for the increase in gallons per minute. All three departments stated they utilize Mercedes hose. All three stated this brand offers the lowest friction loss, which results in the highest gallons per minute. All three departments utilize different nozzles. Chief Homer Robertson of …show more content…
Everyone agreed that the 100psi nozzle was too much for a three-person engine company, where typically we would be operating with an officer and firefighter on the line. Many questioned the stream reach on the 50psi nozzle, but agreed that it was a lot easier to handle. The Akron 50psi nozzle did not have the reach of the 75psi and the 100psi nozzle. When I asked all personnel who were on the line in regards to having the reach inside a structure, they countered if we operated in a transitional attack they would like to have the reach. Everyone agreed that for our operational needs and comfortability, the 75psi would work the