Chicago engines

[upstater]

I tried a search and came up empty, so....

To anyone from Chicago who knows:

The supply line on the front bumper - how much is on there? (Different lengths in different districts?)

Is it bundled any special way so that you can pull less than the whole thing if you want to?

Does it end in some kind of valve, or hook directly to the hydrant?

Is it the engineer's job to pull this and hook it up, or are things set up another way?


Thanks

[ChicagoFF]

The front bumpers carry 150' of 4 inch supply hose (plus 700' of 4" in the bed). There is also 20' of soft suction connected to the front intake. The 150 is just storz connectors and the soft has a female to connect to the hydrant and a storz connector screwed into it in case you need the extra hose. As far as I know the 150' is standard for the whole city. Standard proceedure is to connect to the port facing the fire building and to put a gate valve on the port facing away from the building for someone else to hook to (although this is to be used only when there is no other good option - otherwise everyone gets their own hydrant). The engines here have 3 ff, 1 engineer, and one officer. 1 ff is on the pipe, one is heel man, and one is hydrant. Engineers only drive and run the pumps. Officer follows the pipe. The hydrant man has to make the hydrant, drag the 4", and connect the valve while the engineer breaks the hose and connects to the engine. Sometimes the engineer will do it all himself, but 90% of the time it is the hydrant mans job. After the hydrant man is done, he either follows the line in and joins the rest of the crew or he leads out a second line on his own. Depends on the situation. That is the only plus of being on the hydrant - if it's a good fire you get your own line!

[pfd4life]

That is the only plus of being on the hydrant - if it's a good fire you get your own line!

Does Chicago stick the probies on the hydrant, or is it just a rotated duty? And do you have multiple 4" outlets? Or is it a 4" with dual 2-1/2's...for the hydrants.

[ADSNWFLD]

The Chicago system works well, several of the departments in DuPage Co. do the same or very close.
The idea is that with 150' of hose and hydrants only 300' apart you are always in reach of a hydrant.
Modify as needed for your hydrant spacing.

[FFFRED]

And do you have multiple 4" outlets? Or is it a 4" with dual 2-1/2's...for the hydrants.

Chicago Fire hydrants

FTM-PTB

[pfd4life]

Chicago Fire hydrants

FTM-PTB

Hey...thanks...I forget about google..