In the early 1980s, many wildland hose packs in California were converted over to the “Gnass Pack.” This was a significant breakthrough over the traditional donut rolls that used to be carried when making progressive hoselays. The advantages were apparent-no more rolling sections of hose downhill, charging them, and then physically hauling them back uphill while continuing the fire attack. This new pack simply charged into a coil right where it was dropped and made advancing the line much easier, quicker, and safer. Because it was compact, lightweight, and easy to deploy, this wildland hose pack became an exceptional way to carry attack lines into fires.
This same technique of charging coiled fire hose has been brought over into the urban firefighters setting as the Metro Hose Pack. Several modifications have been made to address the needs for municipal firefighting. To no one’s surprise, it is once more proving its value to firefighters, but in a different environment. Firefighters have been experiencing overall improved performance on the fireground. Deployment times have been substantially reduced in comparison with those of traditional wye lines and bundles because firefighters do not need to stretch or flake the hose prior to charging their lines, eliminating several steps in the evolution. Training and standardization are easily accomplished, but the most significant benefit of this hose pack is that it is so versatile. Many fireground situations will benefit from incorporating the Metro Pack into the equation. This multiuse hose pack is just what the phrase implies-a hose system that is capable of meeting multiple challenges on the fireground. In addition to its versatility, the Metro Pack boasts the same benefits of its wildland cousin of 20 years ago, and more:
- Its simple design concept is easy for firefighters to learn and apply.
- It is lightweight, mobile, and quickly deployed.
- It progressively extends to required lengths.
- It is suitable for use with 11/2-, 13/4-, and two-inch lines.
THE HOSE
 (1) Two Metro Packs and a water thief assembly. Each pack consists of a single 100-foot length of 13/4-inch lightweight hose with low-pressure breakaway nozzles. (Photos by author). |
The Metro Pack consists of two packs of 13/4-inch hose. Each pack contains a 100-foot length of lightweight, synthetic, double-jacketed hose. A single section of hose works best because it provides less bulk and weight compared with two 50-foot lengths. The liner is constructed of thermoplastic material, which is lighter and more compact than rubber-lined hose. The outer jacket contains reflective material for added visibility.
THE HOSE LOAD
 (2) A Metro Pack with the straps removed, laid flat, and in the “open” position is ready to be extended into a charged handline. |
The hose is coiled in a circle with the nozzle located in the center; the female coupling finishing is on the outside of the coil. This allows all 100 feet to be charged in a fairly small area and be immediately ready for fire attack without the need to flake hose. The hose advances easily, regardless of whether a small amount or the entire 100-foot length is needed. This hose load can be charged and advanced in the following ways:
- Horizontally-flat on the ground, good for open and unconfined situations.
- Vertically-on its side, for working in confined areas such as hallways, landings, and stairwells.
- Advanced dry-from lower floors, the hose pack is opened and placed on a firefighter’s shoulder. As the firefighter advances up the stairs, he simply flakes hose off as needed and then charges the remaining line when ready to begin fire attack.
 (3) A Metro Pack charged on the ground. Note: When extending hoselines, secure the shutoff bail from closing with webbing or rope. |
All these features reduce the time it takes firefighters to place hoselines into operation. As always, you must guard against kinks and eliminate them to ensure an adequate fire stream.
HOSE PACK STRAP
The straps are made of two-inch nylon webbing material, hook-and-loop fasteners, reflective trim, and D-buckles. Three points fasten to the hose to keep it secure and mobile. The section securing the nozzle side is color-coded distinctly from the rest of the webbing for easy recognition. Pull tabs are designed long and with reflective material so firefighters can easily locate and release the straps to deploy the hose pack in poor visibility situations while wearing gloves. The finished pack can be carried on the shoulder or over an SCBA. This frees the firefighters’ hands so they can carry additional equipment, operate hoselines, and stabilize themselves while climbing ladders.
 (4) The Metro Pack can be easily carried on the firefighter’s shoulder or |
Storage is a key advantage, since the hose pack and water thief assembly makes a very compact unit, thus freeing up hosebed space.
COUPLINGS
 (5) it can be carried over the SCBA. This method frees the hands so operating handlines, climbing ladders, and other operations can be safely accomplished. |
Couplings are made of quick-connect 1/4-turn NS threads, facilitating rapid connections when extending hoselines. Higbee cuts are easily located by the recessed areas in the rocker lugs. These are readily adaptable to any conventional NS coupling or adapter. This feature allows firefighters to find and complete a hose connection rapidly in less time than it takes to couple conventional NS threads. Urban applications differ from those in the wildland setting and require additional modifications with equipment. Progressive hoselays on wildland fires connect “hose to hose.” Structural firefighting lines are typically connected and extended from “nozzle to hose” or “appliance to hose.” Therefore, the 1/4-turn threads (male only) are also required on breakaway nozzles, gated wyes, and water thiefs to be of benefit.
NOZZLE
A 150-gpm at 50-psi combination nozzle is used with a breakaway tip. This allows the hose pack to be extended without undue delay in the water supply. There is a built-in 15/16-inch smooth-bore waterway (182 gpm at 50 psi) when the combination nozzle is removed. This provides an adequate stream and reduces the chance of obstructed waterways from debris when operating from standpipe systems. It is recommended that the nozzles and hose be coded with the same color to prevent other types of hose or nozzles from being inadvertently placed on these packs when reservicing after fire incidents.
WATER THIEF ASSEMBLY
 (6) Quick-connect 1/4-turn couplings. Hose connections can be completed quickly, and the couplings readily connect to conventional NS threaded couplings and appliances. |
This appliance (single 21/2-inch male and two 11/2-inch male outlets) is carried along with a “hose whip” (a 12-foot section of three-inch hose). This allows multiple lines to operate from a single standpipe/discharge outlet. The hose whip also takes critical bends out of lines connected to standpipes and brings the shutoff valve to the ground within better access to the attack team. With the water thief, firefighters can also execute several different hose evolutions, such as
- perform similar hose evolutions as conventional wye lines, leader lines, and hotel/apartment packs and have the additional availability of a larger (21/2-inch) handline if needed;
- perform standpipe evolutions;
- place multiple 13/4-inch handlines into service from the apparatus; and
- place handlines into operation from “portable standpipes” (i.e., aerial ladders).
 (7) Combination breakaway, low-pressure nozzle (150 gpm at 50 psi). This shutoff has a built-in 15/16-inch tip capable of flowing 182 gpm at 50 psi. |
The water thief assembly and Metro Packs carried on each engine company allow personnel to operate a single 13/4-inch line up to 200 feet or two 100-foot lines. Typical applications include extending preconnected handlines; extending a foam line up to 300 feet; reducing/extending 21/2-inch handlines during suppression and overhaul operations; and using them for forward and reverse hoselay evolutions.
TACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Below are some of the places to and situations in which the Metro Pack can be quickly transported and deployed:
- long center-hall occupancies;
- garden apartments;
- buildings with setbacks;
- long, restricted-access roads;
- marinas and docks;
- wildland/urban interface incidents;
- “horizontal high-rises” (i.e., shopping malls); and
- rapid intervention teams (RITs).
 (8) Metro Packs and water thief assembly are used in a wye line operation. The additional 21/2-inch outlet on the water thief enables firefighters to operate a larger backup or attack line. |
The Metro Pack can be used successfully in many fireground scenarios. Deployment times are reduced and mobility is effortless. With all the capabilities taken into account, the Metro Pack could be a successful alternative to the current wye lines and bundles. However, each department must make its own evaluation, comparing department needs with the advantages of the Metro Pack and other hose pack systems. The department should test it and determine if it is suitable. For the Metro Pack to be used effectively requires regular drilling and training. n
Special thanks to KMP Fire; Paul Albinger of Elkhart Brass; Terry Powers of the San Diego (CA) Fire Department; and the American River (CA) Fire Department for providing personnel and equipment for article photos.
JOHN DAVIDSON, a 20-year veteran of the fire service, spent his first 10 years with the California Department of Forestry in Southern California. Currently, he is a captain/paramedic with the Sacramento (CA) Fire Department. He has an associate’s degree in fire science and is a California-certified fire officer.
BOB WILLIAMS is a 29-year veteran of the Sacramento (CA) Fire Department, where he has been apparatus operator for the past 19 years. He has a fire science certificate.
 (9) Firefighter advances a “dry” Metro Pack up a stairwell from a standpipe connection one floor below. |
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 (11) Using a Metro Pack aloft. When using Metro Packs, water may be supplied by standpipes, aerial apparatus (as shown), or alternate water sources. |
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