What Size and Length are Your Preconnects

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dave Anderson on September 22, 2008 at 4:55pm

Our Engine has 6 preconnects. All preconnects have an Akron Brass breakaway fog nozzle with a built-in 7/8" tip. The only exception is a 2.5" SB w/ stack tips off the rear.

No. 1 is a 100' 1.75" line in the front bumper
No. 2 & No. 3 are 200' 1.75" off the side
No. 4 is a 200' 2.5" off the side
No. 5 is a 300' 2.5" off the rear
No. 6 is a 300' 1.75" off the rear

We also have a dead load of 400' of 2.5" with a gated wye to 2- 100' 1.75" lines that are strapped to a backboard. This was developed and used for garden style apartments.

90% of the time a 200' preconnect can reach everything.

All companies are staffed at 4 but has a minimum of 3 (with a few exceptions.)

Permalink Reply by Eric Hankins on September 22, 2008 at 7:04pm

YCFD runs 200' preconnects on all of the engines.
We run (3) Preconnected 1 3/4" lines with 200 gpm fog nozzles and (1) 200' 2 1/2" Blitz line with a 250 gpm fog nozzles as well. We also have a 100' 1 1/2" trash line on the front bumper. This is standard on all of our engines.

All of our engine companies are staffed with 3 personnel. So preconnects are the easiest, but not always the best.

For the MOST part, the 200' lines work well. Sometimes (or most) there is too much hose in the front yard, but thats not too bad of an issue. Where we run into the problem is at fires where there is a long set-back. We have been trying to get the officers into the mind set that they shouldn't hesitate to pull the 2 1/2" supply line and our 1 3/4" hose pack that has 150' of hose flat loaded with a gated wye and 200gpm nozzle.

As mentioned in the "Stretched Short..." topic. I have been at the wrong end of a preconnect that came up short, and gotten burnt because of it. I am a huge advocate of pulling hose from the bed as oppsed to preconnects if ever in doubt.

Permalink Reply by Eric Hankins on September 22, 2008 at 8:48pm

What Truck?????

Permalink Reply by Dave Anderson on September 22, 2008 at 8:55pm

We are not the best at Truck placement however we do our best to leave a spot for the truck in front of the house. That is the benefit to having the rear preconnects.

Permalink Reply by Aaron Heller on September 23, 2008 at 8:16am

We try to always leave room for the truck at the front of the building. By pulling past or short, we have no problems either using pre-connects or static loads from the rear. We trust the officers and nozzlemen to make the right stretch. Never say never, but for the most part we get it right the 1st time.

Permalink Reply by Wayne Benner Jr on September 25, 2008 at 12:03pm

Small Combination Department 3 engines - 1 (75') Ladder - 1 2000g Tanker /Pumper
1st Away Engine 800g - Career Truck (2-3 firefighters)

frontbumper preconnect 100ft 1 3/4 Elkhart "Chief" Combination nozzle
2 Midmount preconnect both @ 200ft 1 3/4 same nozzle as above
1 Rear mount preconnect 200ft 2 1/2 same nozzle.
1 Top mount in ready position Solid Bore deck gun

Static Load 800ft of 2 1/2

Permalink Reply by Ray McCormack on October 5, 2008 at 2:22pm

What size line would you be stretching?

Permalink Reply by Kevin Galligan on November 25, 2008 at 7:03pm

City of Brockton, MA

1 3/4" 150'
1 3/4" 200'
1 3/4" 250'
2 1/2" 200'

These selections are based upon response area and staffing. The preconnects rarely need adjustment. The preconnected 2 1/2" line is very effective in knocking down heavy fire conditions.

There is also a 800' 2 1/2" available - not preconnected.

Permalink Reply by Larry Lasich on November 26, 2008 at 12:26am

Kevin Galligan said:

City of Brockton, MA

1 3/4" 150'
1 3/4" 200'
1 3/4" 250'
2 1/2" 200'

These selections are based upon response area and staffing. The preconnects rarely need adjustment. The preconnected 2 1/2" line is very effective in knocking down heavy fire conditions.

There is also a 800' 2 1/2" available - not preconnected.

Do you pull your second line from the same Engine and if so, do you add or remove a section so that it's the same length as the primary?

Permalink Reply by Kevin Galligan on November 26, 2008 at 4:40pm

Larry,

Our standard operation works like this:

First due engine with 3-4 personnel and a 750 gallon tank stretches a line and attacks the fire.
Second due engine arrives within minutes, pulls up to or backs up to first due engine, drops a 4" feeder and personnel, lays out to hydrant for front suction or short 4" length. Personnel will stretch a second line off of the first engine and rarely have to make any adjustments.
Sqaud A is a rescue pumper that responds to every fire and has the option to do whatever the IC needs done.

The second alarm typically mimicks the first. additional lines are taken off of other pumps.

This is essentially a carry over from the two piece engine companies and works very well for us.

Kevin

Permalink Reply by Jeff Schwering on November 29, 2008 at 8:15pm

Both engine companies are set-up the same way. We carry two 1.75 pre connects, both 200', and 75' of 1.75 as a trash line. We also carry a leader line on the back, made up of 400' of 2.5 with 100' of 1.5" that can be used as a high rise pack, or a blitz line.The 1.5 can be quickly disconnected to use the 2.5 w/ a smooth bore nozzle, from experience, this load does work well. All of our preconnects are set up with community and staffing needs in mind.

Permalink Reply by Larry Lasich on November 29, 2008 at 9:05pm

Kevin,
Sorry, I was unclear. It looks like the next crew that pulls a second attack (or RIT) line from your engine can't get into the building as far as the first, or, has a spagetti mess due to extra line still outside.

I was wondering if you pull another 200 foot (as an example) of 1 3/4 from another engine or add a section to your preconnect for the second due crew.

Larry

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