Water Handling Equipment Guide - National Wildfire Coordinating ...

WATER DELIVERY COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES
Hose Dispensers and Storage
B. Hose Dispensers and Storage
There are several methods of storing fire hose and
dispensing them for wildland firefighting. Many
ingenious systems probably have been developed
by fire crews to suit their own special needs. Fire
equipment suppliers have some general-purpose
equipment available, especially hose reels that are
produced in manufacturing plants.
Rubber-lined, rubber-covered, high-pressure hose
(also called booster hose) is normally stored and
dispensed on live reels. Woven lined and unlined
types of hose may be stored in baskets, as hose
packs, on trays, or rolled and stored in
compartments and are dispensed by hand. Hard
suction draft hose is normally stored in a plastic or
metal bin in a side compartment, or stored in tubes
or trays.
1. Reels
A hose reel basically consists of a drum, side
rims, revolving joint on one end, self-aligning
bearing on the other end, frame, inlet and
outlet hose connections, electric or handcrank
rewind, and a brake. Various sizes are
available. Rubber or fabric hoses in w or
1 inch sizes are used on the reels that are
usually connected to the pump and kept filled
with water ready for use; thus considering it as
a “live reel.”
Construction and material: Constructed of
steel or aluminum. Drum and rims may be
open or closed. Swivel joint connection may
be capable of operating at hydrostatic
pressures of at least 600 psi. Rewind by hand
crank, electric motor, or by hand using side
rims. Brakes maintain position of reel and
hose. Hose reel information is available from
equipment suppliers. Normal use is with 150 to
250 foot high-pressure rubber hose.
Written material: Hose reel manufacturers
(see appendix G). Specification 5100-340 is
available from:
USDA Forest Service
Technology and Development Center
444 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, CA 91773
133