INTRODUCTION
Fire hoses are the backbone of firefighting operations, they carry water from the engine or hydrant directly to the fire, different hose sizes serve other roles on the fireground, smaller lines are used for attack and maneuverability, while larger lines are meant for heavy fire conditions or moving water long distances, understanding the purpose of each size, and when to deploy it, is essential for safe and effective firefighting. This section serves to educate and set a standard internally amongst the faction.
ADDENDUM
For all intents and purposes, this serves as a means for more in-depth roleplay (/me and /gdo) regarding pumping and water operations. There is no physical scripting or such for the time being.
305.1-1 - DEFINITION OF ATTACK LINE(S)
A hose used to fight fires directly, typically 1¾-inch or 2-inch in diameter, designed for maneuverability inside buildings and around obstacles, capable of delivering a strong, controllable stream of water to suppress flames, usually operated by 1-2 firefighters, with a nozzle at the end to control the direction, pitch, and flow for a variety of firefighting situations."
ATTACK LINE SIZES
Description:
Diameter: 1 inch (approx. 25 mm)
Length: Typically 50-100 feet per section
Hose Type: Lightweight, flexible, reinforced for high pressure, often rubber-coated for durability
Operational Use:
Ideal for rapid attack on small vegetation fires, brush fires, or incipient building fires.
It can be carried and operated by a single firefighter, often on a hose reel or backpack.
Compatible with small handline nozzles for straight stream or fog patterns.
Pressurization:
Engine pump pressure: 150-200 psi to maintain high-velocity flow
Delivers approximately 30-60 GPM depending on nozzle and length
Pros:
Extremely lightweight and highly maneuverable
Quick to deploy and retract, suitable for fast-moving incidents
Single-person operation possible
Cons:
Limited water flow, not suitable for large fires
Short effective reach, must be close to the fire for effectiveness
Vulnerable to punctures or abrasions in rugged terrain
Description:
Diameter: 1¾ inches (approx. 45 mm)
Length: Typically 50-100 feet per section
Hose Type: Lightweight, flexible, smooth, or ribbed exterior
Operational Use:
Designed for interior attacks on residential or small commercial fires.
It can be advanced by 1-2 firefighters due to its low weight.
Compatible with standard handline nozzles for straight stream or fog patterns.
Pressurization:
Engine pump pressure: 100-150 psi (pounds per square inch)
Allows sufficient water flow to suppress flames while remaining manageable.
Pros:
Highly maneuverable in tight spaces
Lightweight, easy to deploy
Requires fewer personnel
Cons:
Limited water flow (approximately 150–200 GPM)
Less effective on large or high-intensity fires
Description:
Diameter: 2½ inches (approx. 65 mm)
Length: Typically 50–100 feet per section
Hose Type: Heavy-duty, reinforced for high-pressure applications
Operational Use:
Primarily used for heavy fire conditions or defensive operations.
Can deliver high volumes of water over long distances.
Usually positioned by 3–4 firefighters or used with mechanical aids for maneuvering.
Pressurization:
Engine pump pressure: 100–175 psi
Water flow: Approximately 250–350 GPM
Optimal for exterior attacks or large structures
Pros:
Extremely high water flow, effective on large fires
Durable and able to handle high pressures
Cons:
Very heavy and difficult to maneuver indoors
Requires multiple firefighters or equipment to advance
Less practical for confined or complex structures
ATTACK LINE NOZZLE TYPES
Description:
Also referred to as a fog nozzle, this nozzle allows the firefighter to adjust the water stream between a narrow straight stream and a wide fog pattern.
Typically constructed from durable metals such as aluminum or brass, with a rotating or sliding tip to adjust the pattern.
Operational Use:
Fog pattern: Breaks water into fine droplets, increasing surface coverage, absorbing heat, and protecting firefighters from radiant heat.
Straight stream: Concentrates water for reach, penetrating deeper into the fire, or hitting specific hotspots.
Adjustable for multiple flow rates, typically 60–200 GPM, depending on engine pressure and hose diameter.
Pressurization and Flow Control:
Operates effectively at engine pump pressures of 100–150 psi (1¾-inch and 2-inch lines) or 100–175 psi (2½-inch lines).
Flow can be adjusted by nozzle setting or pump pressure, allowing precise control over water delivery.
Pros:
Versatile, suitable for interior and exterior firefighting.
Provides both protective fog and penetrating straight streams.
Can be used to create a water curtain for firefighter protection.
Cons:
Slightly heavier and more complex than smoothbore nozzles.
Requires training to adjust properly under fire conditions.
Description:
A fixed, smooth-piped nozzle with a round tip that produces a solid, straight stream of water.
Typically made from brass or aluminum, with limited or no pattern adjustment.
Operational Use:
Provides maximum reach and penetration with minimal friction loss in the hose.
Ideal for exterior attacks, large-volume flow applications, and high-rise firefighting.
Flow rates typically range from 60 to 350 GPM, depending on tip size and hose diameter.
Pressurization and Flow Control:
Operates efficiently at engine pump pressures of 50 to 200 psi, depending on line size.
Simple design ensures reliable water flow under high-pressure conditions.
Pros:
High water delivery and penetration.
Simple and extremely durable.
Minimal maintenance and easy to operate.
Cons:
Cannot produce a fog pattern for heat absorption or firefighter protection.
Less versatile than combination nozzles in confined spaces.
A supply line is a hose used to move water from a source, such as a hydrant or engine, to the fire apparatus or another hose line, typically 3-inch to 5-inch in diameter, designed to carry large volumes of water over long distances, usually operated by multiple firefighters or mechanical means, and is not intended for direct fire attack but to ensure a continuous water supply to attack lines and firefighting operations.
Description:
Diameter: 3 inches (approx. 76 mm)
Length: Typically 100–200 feet per section
Hose Type: Heavy-duty, reinforced, smooth or ribbed exterior
Operational Use:
Moves water from hydrants or static sources to engines or other apparatus.
It can be used to relay water to attack lines in large incidents.
Usually requires 2–3 firefighters to stretch and maneuver, or mechanical hose rollers.
Pressurization:
Engine pump pressure: 100–150 psi, depending on distance and flow requirements
Capable of delivering approximately 300–400 GPM
Pros:
High-volume water transport for sustained operations
Durable and able to handle high-pressure pumping
Essential for long hose lays and large-scale fires
Cons:
Heavy and difficult to maneuver quickly
Not suitable for interior firefighting or confined spaces
Description:
Diameter: 4 inches (approx. 102 mm)
Length: Typically 100–200 feet per section
Hose Type: Extra-heavy-duty, reinforced for very high volume flow
Operational Use:
Used for high-demand water supply situations, such as large commercial fires or multiple attack lines.
Typically laid from hydrants to engines, or engine-to-engine relay operations.
Requires multiple firefighters (3–4) or mechanical aids to advance and manage.
Sometimes used for forestry water operations, when a 5-inch is too much to maneuver or deploy.
Pressurization:
Engine pump pressure: 100–175 psi
Capable of delivering approximately 500–600 GPM
Pros:
Extremely high water capacity for multiple lines or long-distance supply
Very durable, resistant to kinking or bursting under pressure
Cons:
Cumbersome
Requires extensive manpower or mechanical equipment to deploy
Not maneuverable inside buildings
Description:
Diameter: 5 inches (approx. 127 mm)
Length: Typically 200–300 feet per section
Hose Type: Large diameter, extremely reinforced for maximum volume and long-distance supply
Operational Use:
Standard for high-demand fire operations and industrial or municipal fire departments.
Connects hydrants to engines or engines to relay points for multiple attack lines.
Usually handled by several firefighters or with hose ramps, rollers, or vehicle-mounted devices.
Pressurization:
Engine pump pressure: 100–150 psi
Flow capacity: 750–1000 GPM, depending on pump and hose length
Pros:
Maximizes water delivery for large incidents
Supports multiple attack lines simultaneously
Extremely durable under high-pressure conditions
Cons:
Extremely heavy, difficult to handle manually
Not designed for interior attack
Requires careful management to avoid kinks or damage
Firefighting foam is a fire suppression agent applied via specialized hoses to control, suppress, or extinguish fires involving flammable liquids, chemicals, or materials prone to rapid combustion. Foam works by creating a barrier between the fuel and oxygen, cooling the fire, and preventing reignition. Foam lines are hoses specifically designed to deliver foam solution efficiently, typically ranging from 1½-inch to 2½-inch diameters, depending on the volume and type of foam.
Description:
Synthetic foam designed to form a thin, aqueous film on hydrocarbon fuels.
Rapidly suppresses flammable liquid fires, prevents vapor release, and cools surfaces.
Operational Use:
Commonly used for fuel spills, gasoline, aviation fuel, and industrial hydrocarbon fires.
Applied via 1½-inch or 2-inch foam attack lines.
Compatible with combination or aspirating nozzles to achieve proper expansion and coverage.
Pros:
Rapid knockdown of hydrocarbon fires
Forms a vapor-suppressing film, preventing reignition
Can be proportioned into water from 1 to 6% depending on fuel and system
Cons:
Less effective on polar solvents (alcohol, ketones)
Requires proper proportioning and application technique
Description:
Modified AFFF with a polymer additive to resist breakdown on polar solvent fires.
Operational Use:
Used for alcohol, ketone, and other polar solvent fires where standard AFFF fails.
Applied via 1½-inch or 2-inch foam attack lines.
Requires a fog nozzle to properly mix foam concentrate with water.
Pros:
Effective on polar solvent and hydrocarbon fires
Maintains vapor suppression and foam integrity
Cons:
More expensive than standard AFFF
Requires strict adherence to proportioning
Description:
A combination of protein foam and fluorochemical surfactants for faster knockdown.
Operational Use:
Used in high-risk areas like refineries, airports, and fuel depots.
Applied via 2-inch or 2½-inch foam lines with aspirating nozzles.
Pros:
Rapid fire suppression with heat resistance
Effective on hydrocarbon fuels, moderate burnback resistance
Cons:
Heavier and more expensive than plain protein foam
Description:
Foam that expands 200–1000 times its original volume, used for confined spaces.
Operational Use:
Ideal for warehouse, shipboard, and aircraft hangar fires.
Applied via larger foam lines (2½-inch or larger) connected to high-expansion generators.
Fills large areas quickly, displacing oxygen and suppressing flames.
Pros:
Rapid area coverage for confined spaces
Minimal water usage compared to traditional foam
Cons:
Not suitable for outdoor fires or flammable liquid spills
Requires specialized equipment