By Michael N. Ciampo
Sometimes drilling or discussing “back-to-basics” tactics can be very helpful and useful; it may also remind that firefighter who says, “Oh, I forgot about that.” Often it’s the smallest or simplest things that can make another situation go smoothly if we had only followed that basic tactic. Sure, there are ways of improving or enhancing the tactic, but to improve it, we need to understand why it’s there in the first place.
Pulling into the block to operate as a tower ladder at a vacant structure fire, we were ordered to set up between the fire building and the exposure; lining up our turntable with the alleyway allowed us to attack the fire building and protect the exposure. As we got into position, a supply line was being stretched to our location. Unfortunately, the hose barely made it and looked like a clothesline from the engine to our apparatus. Sizing up the vacant structure and understanding that the apparatus could be moved forward to attack more of the fire and allow another tower ladder to operate in our original position, we laid out one of our donut rolls of supply hose off our apparatus. (Aerial and tower ladders should carry some extra supply hose and fittings!)
As the firefighter rolled out the hose with a “bowling ball throw,” it went between the parked cars and got stuck under one of them. Now, the firefighter had to go over and retrieve the hose while the rest of the crew was waiting and the fire was intensifying. How did something so easy to do suddenly add more stress and pressure on extending a supply line?
We all learned the basics of hose rolling or creating the “donut.” It was always stressed that you protect the male coupling’s threads by always rolling them on the inside so they wouldn’t get nicked or burred. The female coupling with its recessed threads is protected by its physical makeup, so they are on the outside.
There are many types of donut rolls, and fire departments may refer to each of them differently and use them in different applications.
Single Roll. This is also called the straight roll and often is used to store hose on a rack or roll it up after a fire to place it in the hose dryer. Single rolls often find their way onto the apparatus. Why put it on there like that? Most of us have used the “bowling alley toss” and have watched it go flying and either hit another firefighter in the leg or go veering out of control in either direction and only half uncoil. Or maybe you’ve been lucky enough to have quickly needed that length to replace a burst section of hose and as you grabbed the male coupling from inside the donut and went in one direction and the female was pulled in the other, the hose looked like a spiral piece of spaghetti! Now you’re spinning it like crazy to make it straight again.
The single roll is okay for storage and has another application for out-of-service or defective hose. In those cases, roll the female coupling on the inside of the donut and keep the male on the outside. When you complete the roll, tie an overhand knot in the hose to indicate to others that it wasn’t mistakenly rolled. You should place an out-of-service tag on it as well, but the tag might tear off in transit. Some departments cut off a coupling to indicate that the hose is defective. You can roll this hose quickly, but it will often overlap at the ends, and most firefighters will lay the hose flat and step on it to compact the donut. Such compression may damage the inner jacket, so take your time and roll it slowly. Respect the tool we count on the most!
Donut Roll. This may also be called a rolled length, protected roll, or “double” in some departments. It is where the hose is folded out on top of itself, keeping the male end about three feet back from the female end. It is then rolled back onto itself. One member should hold the upper hose and keep it taut or in line with the bottom hose to keep it neat and compact as the other member rolls the hose. This also eliminates the need to stand on its compressed edges. Once the roll is completed, the male end will be protected from damage by a layer of hose.
To deploy this roll, undo the protective layer and then grab onto both couplings. Yes, you can use the “bowling ball maneuver,” but look at your surroundings, see who is operating around you, and make sure it will not get caught under an object after your toss it. The other option for deploying this roll is to lay it flat and grab both couplings and walk away from the roll; it should deploy easily. With this roll, when you’re extending a line or replacing a burst length, two firefighters can take each end of the hose and walk in different directions, deploying the hose effortlessly. It will not kink, bind, or twist and will be a much easier and simpler tactic to follow.
Twin Donut or Double Roll. This allows one length of hose to be rolled smaller in circumference but wider than the rolls mentioned above. The hose is folded and laid out next to each fold with the couplings at the same end. It is then rolled as two “individual” rolls, ending with the couplings exposed and next to each other at the end. A variation with this roll allows you to make the hose into a carrying strap.
Remember, when making these rolls or putting them into service, check the female coupling for a gasket to prevent leaking and loss of pressure. And when you put them on the apparatus, grab the right donut!
MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 26-year veteran of the fire service and a lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously, he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He is the lead instructor for the FDIC Truck Essentials H.O.T. program. He wrote the Ladder chapter and co-authored the Ventilation chapter for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and II (Fire Engineering, 2009) and is featured in “Training Minutes” truck company videos on www.FireEngineering.com.
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