There have been a few questions asked about which is the
correct way, or the “one way” to catch a hydrant while laying supply
lines. The fact is there is no one-way
to properly catch a hydrant. This Quick
Drill will outline two acceptable methods for “catching a hydrant”. Company Officers should review the way that
they prefer to have their crew perform this task.
Method
One
The
“Flying J”
The
oldest method of catching a hydrant on the HPFD is the “Flying J”. The hydrant firefighter wraps the hydrant in
the form of a “J” around the hydrant without fully looping the hydrant with the
hose.
Procedure
1. Engine
stops with the tailboard of the apparatus a few feet past the hydrant to be
used.
2. 
The
Hydrant firefighter dismounts the apparatus on the curbside of the apparatus,
moves to the rear of the apparatus and removes sufficient hose and hydrant
tools.
3. Moving
towards the hydrant, the firefighter passes the hose in front of the hydrant
and loops the hose around the hydrant so that the coupling is now facing the
direction of travel of the engine. When ready, the hydrant firefighter signals
to the engine to “go” and the engine moves toward the fire. FEO’s must use caution and move the engine
s-l-o-w-l-y so that the hose deploys smoothly and does not snag in the hose
bed. This is especially important for
quints and ladder companies that are deploying 5” supply line through the
“chute”.
4.
When
sufficient hose has played out of the bed (at least the first 100’) the hydrant
firefighter can begin to make the hose hook-up to the hydrant. If the hydrant firefighter suspects the
hydrant may have been tampered with or vandalized, he/she should first test the
hydrant.
5.
Remove the 4 ½” cap from the hydrant. Do not stand in front of the hydrant while
doing this. Stand off to one side in
case the hydrant is charged.
6.
Open the hydrant and listen for the barrel to
start filling with water. Allow water to
flow from the outlet to remove and debris that may be in the hydrant.
7.
Close the hydrant sufficiently to stop or
slow the water flow and make the hydrant to supply line connection.
8.
Connect the Storz to 4 ½” adapter and 5”
supply line to the hydrant.
9.
Wait for orders to fully open the hydrant and
charge the supply line.
It is important that the
hydrant firefighter conduct the hydrant hook-up operation slowly and
methodically. Hydrants are easy targets
for vandals, drunk drivers and others.
In some cases hydrants have failed because of debris inside the barrel
or even in the water main.
The
picture below is the operating valve of a hydrant with concrete rebar wrapped
around it. The rebar was construction
debris that was left inside the water main during construction. When the hydrant was opened, the pressure of
the water wrapped the rebar around the operating stem and the hydrant failed.
NEVER put your hand inside the barrel of a hydrant to clear debris. Flush the hydrant to remove any junk that may
be in it.
The “Flying J” forward lay
Method
Two
The
“Bowtie”
The second method of catching a hydrant is almost identical
to the first method EXCEPT that the hose line is wrapped around the hydrant in
a loop, or a “bowtie”.
Procedure
1.
Engine stops with the tailboard of the apparatus a
few feet past the hydrant to be used.
2.
The Hydrant firefighter dismounts the apparatus on
the curbside of the apparatus, moves to the rear of the apparatus and removes
sufficient hose and hydrant tools.
3.
Moving
towards the hydrant, the firefighter passes the hose in front of the hydrant
and loops the hose around the hydrant so that the hose forms a round turn
around the hydrant and the coupling is now facing the opposite direction of
travel of the engine. When ready, the hydrant firefighter signals to the engine
to “go” and the engine moves toward the fire.
FEO’s must use caution and move the engine s-l-o-w-l-y so that the hose
deploys smoothly and does not snag in the hose bed. This is especially important for quints and
ladder companies that are deploying 5” supply line through the “chute”.
4.
When
sufficient hose has played out of the bed (at least the first 100’) the hydrant
firefighter can begin to make the hose hook-up to the hydrant. If the hydrant firefighter suspects the
hydrant may have been tampered with or vandalized, he/she should first test the
hydrant.
5.
Remove the 4 ½” cap from the hydrant. Do not stand in front of the hydrant while
doing this. Stand off to one side in
case the hydrant is charged.
6.
Open the hydrant and listen for the barrel to start
filling with water. Allow water to flow
from the outlet to remove and debris that may be in the hydrant.
7.
Close the
hydrant sufficiently to stop or slow the water flow and make the hydrant to
supply line connection.
8.
Connect the Storz to 4 ½” adapter and 5” supply line
to the hydrant.
9.
Wait for orders to fully open the hydrant and charge
the supply line.
Estimated time: “Quick Drill”: 30 minutes
Estimated time: Single Company Drill: 3 hours
Training Module Numbers: “Quick Drill”=
#180
Single Company Drill = #470
