What Size and Length are Your Preconnects

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Kazikiewicz on September 20, 2008 at 1:00am

Our engines carry the following at a minimum for preconnects:
2-200' 1 3/4" lines with TFT nozzles.
1-200' 2 1/2" line with a TFT nozzle.

The length is based on our response area, and so far they meet our needs. I would like to have at least one of the lines with a smoothbore nozzle as a different option though. However, this is going to take some time and convincing of the diehards.

Permalink Reply by Mike Walker on September 20, 2008 at 7:12am

In Oklahoma City our typical preconnect cadre is 2 or 3 200 ft. 1 3/4 with TFT fog nozzles. One of the lines has a breakdown nozzle to allow for a smoothbore option. We also have 1-200ft. 2 1/2 line with a breakdown nozzle. The 1 3/4" lines are usually loaded in a Triple lay but some use a Minute Man for rear deployment lines. Many of our companies are using the Cleveland, aka bundles, aka Metro-Load for the 2 1/2" lines. They all work well. We give our officers the option of loading the hose as it suites their needs best for their response area.

I have been very impressed with the new Cleveland, aka Bundles, aka Metro-Load. Give the nozzle man and back up guy 50 ft. of hose right outside the point of entry and it deploys wonderfully.

Permalink Reply by Aaron Heller on September 20, 2008 at 10:42am

Hey Ray,
Our rigs have 1- 200' preconnected 1 3/4 w/ a smooth bore nozzle, 1- 150' preconnected 1 3/4' w/ a smooth bore, and a preconnected 150' 2 1/2" w/ a smooth bore. All of these are crosslays. Off the back we keep a static load of 500' of 1 3/4" and a static load of 500' of 2 1/2". We also have a 200' preconnected 2 1/2" blitz line attached to an Akron Mercury portable monitor. These set ups have been pretty good in dealing with both the downtown area and the McMansions in the countryside. The only combination nozzle we use is on our 100' 1 3/4" bumper line.The biggest problem we have is the rigs were built with very high hosebeds, creating a little difficulty stretching from the back of the rig. We did quite a bit of testing to make sure the set-ups met the staffing levels and the guys do a good job with this.

Permalink Reply by Barry Aptt on September 20, 2008 at 11:48am

We have the basic handline lengths of 150' preconnects of 1 3/4" with TFT on the first line apparatus and a 200' preconect of 2 1/2 " with a playpipe and 300' dry flaked in the bed as extra hose to connect if a longer lay is estimated. We also run a quint with 100, 150 and 200' preconnects of 1 3/4" .. so far it has worked for us. we also keep some extra 1 3/4 on the back bed to add to the preconnects if we need it.

We have had no troubles because most of our work is residential and if we go commercialwe have the 2 1/2 " for that. We also carry a highrise pack of 150' of lightweight 1 3/4" with smooth bore nozzles for elderly housing building of which are 5 to 6 stories

Permalink Reply by Ray McCormack on September 20, 2008 at 12:13pm

I like the idea of various lengths of preconnected beds. If your 150 is working but maxed out then another bed of 150 will not get you above the fire. As we all know the couplings can be detached to shorten a stretch and lessen the mess in the front yard.

Permalink Reply by Bob Shovald on September 20, 2008 at 12:43pm

Hi Ray -
We use (2) 200' x 1 3/4" pre-connected lines and (1) 100' x 1 3/4" pre-connect (bumper) for trash fires. We use break-apart akron assualt nozzles 150/50 with a 15/16 slug tip.
We also have a 200' x 2 1/2" preconnect with a 1 1/4" solid tip. Next to it is a duplicate line except it is not pre-connected. Next to that line is a bed with (2) 100' folded lengths of 2 1/2" we use to extend the 2 1/2" lines.
We went away from the 100' 150' 200' pre-connect configuration for three reasons 1. the wrong length attack line could be pulled. 2. if a 200' attack was pulled the back up line would be 50' short. 3. We found always pulling a 200' lay made for better line deployment and minimum training. Our 100' bumper line is pulled only for light duty nuisance fires.

Permalink Reply by Larry Lasich on September 20, 2008 at 12:47pm

E-1: Front trash line, 100 feet of 1 1/2 with a 75 psi fog nozzle, two crosslays with 200 feet 1 3/4 and 75 psi fog nozzles.
Tender 4: Two crosslays with 200 feet of 1 1/2 and 75 psi fog nozzles.
A quick attack and a Type 6 wildland with the usual small stuff

Permalink Reply by Chris Poyner on September 20, 2008 at 3:38pm

We have 4 different preconnects on our engine.
1.100ft 1 3/4 front bumper trash line
2.200ft 1 3/4 crosslay with a smoothbore nozzle with a 15/16 slug tip
3.200ft 1 3/4 crosslay with a combination nozzle set on a straight stream pattern
4.200ft 2 1/2 rear preconnect with a smoothbore nozzle.
This set up works well for us.The importnat thing to remember is that we must change with the way our towns and cities change.

Permalink Reply by Eddie Crombie on September 21, 2008 at 9:36am

We have 4 preconnect loads.

-150' of 1 3/4" with a combo nozzle
-200' of 1 3/4" with a combo nozzle
-200' of 2 1/2" with a combo nozzle
-100' of 1 3/4" trash line

Permalink Reply by David DeStefano on September 21, 2008 at 4:21pm

Our engine co's carry 2- 200 foot 1 3/4 pre connects, 1 with a solid bore nozzle and 1 with an automatic fog nozzle. we also carry 1 250 foot and 1 300 foot 1 3/4 pre connect with an automatic fog nozzle and a solid bore nozzle respectively. each company has a 75 or 100 foot 1 3/4 trash line and 1 200 foot 2 1/2 pre connect with a solid bore nozzle. We use a minute man load which enables quick stretches with minimum manpower as well as the ability to split the 300 foot line by stretching just the top 150 feet for short stretch jobs. These loads have worked well for our 3 or 4 person companies in a variety of situations from short stretches where the fire is on the first floor and the front door is at the curb, to fires in "3 deckers" where the access is side 3 down an alley.

Permalink Reply by Art Bloomer on September 22, 2008 at 3:47pm

Brother Ray...how you doing...


We have been using pre-connects on our 1 3/4" lines for decades. And they always seem too short. We currently run with 200 foot off the rear (typical Hudson County), and a 100' and 200' off the crosslays. Too often we need to piece in 50' or 100' on some of our 4 and 5 story multiples. We tend to luck out sometimes and can do a stairwell raise, but far too often have to lay up the stairs (gets in the way of the truckies). We keep one 100' length of 2 1/2" bungied together on top of our static load, pulling as we need. We have tried to set up the engines as the district dictates, but higher ranking minds want to keep the rigs interchangable. My district has a lot of mid-rises, needing a longer stretch, as opposed to the north end of town that mainly has 2 1/2 story frames.

Permalink Reply by Chris Velzen on September 22, 2008 at 4:10pm

Our front line machine is a 75' quint with 400 gallons of water. 1-150 foot 1 3/4, 1-200 foot 1 3/4, 1-200 2 1/2, a 100 foot 1 3/4' trashline on the bumper, and 200 foot spare 2 1/2 in the rear. These are based upon our response areas and our setbacks are 40-50 feet. Very few highrises.

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