Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 5 - Positioning Apparatus
"By the Numbers"

  • The inside/outside method of positioning is used on building that are less than 5 stories tall and consist of the pumper positioning to the inside (closer to the building) and the aerial to the outside (farther from the building). On buildings taller than 5 stories, positioning is opposite.
  • Dry hydrants should be installed with draft parts a minimum of 2 feet from the bottom and top of the water with the pumper connection at least 15 inches above the ground.
  • Intake hose sections are commonly 10 to 50 feet long.
  • With wheels turned at a 45 degree angle when making a hydrant connection, the driver can easily adjust the distance between hydrant and pumper by moving forward or backward.
  • A good way to prevent kinks in soft sleeve hose is to put 2 full twists in the hose prior to making the connection between hydrant and pumper, but should not be used if Storz couplings are present on either end.
  • When using front or rear intake connections, the pumper should be angled at 45 degrees or less to the hydrant.
  • When maximum flow from a hydrant is NOT needed, connection to hydrant can be made with one or two 2 1/2" outlets, using 2 1/2" or 3" hose.
  • The main disadvantage of connecting to a hydrant's 2 1/2" connection is limited water supply.
  • Friction loss can be minimized when using 2 1/2" hydrant connections by using 3" hoselines with 2 1/2" couplings.
  • The average flow through gated 2 1/2" intake connections is 250 gpm.
  • Using multiple 2 1/2" or 3" lines into a larger bell reducer or suction siamese fitting provides maximum flow from smaller intake lines.
  • Test pressures for hose can be found in NFPA 1962, Standard for the Care, Use, and Service Testing of Fire Hose Including Couplings and Nozzles.
  • Pumpers may be as much as 300 feet apart during tandem pumping operations.
  • In wildland fires, a short 1 1/2" or 1 3/4" line should be deployed and charged for protection of the apparatus.
  • Cascade systems on mobile fire apparatus typically range from a bank of 4 to 12 large cylinders.
  • Level 1 staging is used on every emergency response when 2 companies performing like functions are dispatched.
  • Level 2 staging is used when numerous emergency vehicles will be responding to an incident.
  • Incidents that require mutual aid or multiple alarms need Level 2 staging.
  • All apparatus except the staging officer should have warning lights turned off after they park at the staging center (Level 2 Staging).
  • At least 1 lane next to the incident on highway scenes should be closed.