Fire Hose Questions

[mike93lx]

To those that want to play the water game....the OP at some time may have no water pressure or volume. What hose should he use?

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You don't seem to enjoy it here... Maybe time to move on

 

[atthebeach]

Thanks for all the input. There is apparently more to this issue than I would have imagined. I have a lot to consider here including the sprinkler suggestion. Maybe a hose and a sprinkler system.

Temperatures here are very mild throughout the year. The irrigation line is gravity fed from a nearby reservoir, and is used for farming operations. We have a private water company that maintains this system and also a separate system fed by wells providing potable drinking water to the house and also the fire hydrants along the road. My nearest hydrant is at about 400 feet from the house. Local code requires hydrants within 500 feet.

I don't possess the bravery that I have seen firefighters demonstrate in fighting wildfires. When the going got tough, I would be pretty quick to cut and run. My thinking is to wet down the area until the fire department was able to respond. Turning on a sprinkler system and bugging out actually sounds pretty tempting.

Thanks again for all the input. You have given me a lot to think about.

 

[Partsguy57]

You don't seem to enjoy it here... Maybe time to move on

Lol I do enjoy... it seems some tend to be thin skinned and easily **** hurt when some things are pointed out... so he wants to know what hose to use and as some want to know what do with water issues. So he may have no water or no pressure what do you recommend for hose? Absurd is it not? I'll help you out if you don't have water its pointless to have a hose...

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[Leaflessshadetree]

Lol I do enjoy... it seems some tend to be thin skinned and easily **** hurt when some things are pointed out... so he wants to know what hose to use and as some want to know what do with water issues. So he may have no water or no pressure what do you recommend for hose? Absurd is it not? I'll help you out if you don't have water its pointless to have a hose...

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I guess that is one situation where structure guys have more knowledge.
If you lose water and get disoriented. You can follow the hose out.

 

[Partsguy57]

I guess that is one situation where structure guys have more knowledge.
If you lose water and get disoriented. You can follow the hose out.[emoji106]

Lol you are correct... there is a use for a hose with no water... I stand corrected... cheers

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[NUTTSGT]

Thanks for all the input. There is apparently more to this issue than I would have imagined. I have a lot to consider here including the sprinkler suggestion. Maybe a hose and a sprinkler system.

Temperatures here are very mild throughout the year. The irrigation line is gravity fed from a nearby reservoir, and is used for farming operations. We have a private water company that maintains this system and also a separate system fed by wells providing potable drinking water to the house and also the fire hydrants along the road. My nearest hydrant is at about 400 feet from the house. Local code requires hydrants within 500 feet.

I don't possess the bravery that I have seen firefighters demonstrate in fighting wildfires. When the going got tough, I would be pretty quick to cut and run. My thinking is to wet down the area until the fire department was able to respond. Turning on a sprinkler system and bugging out actually sounds pretty tempting.

Thanks again for all the input. You have given me a lot to think about.

So you have a good source of water that is gravity fed. Is that gravity feed giving you the 85 psi or is that also assisted with any pumps ?

I'd suggest contacting the local company that maintains the system and find out, if in time of need, is the irrigation line shut down to help conserve water for firefighting needs.

 

[ItsNemo]

So you have a good source of water that is gravity fed. Is that gravity feed giving you the 85 psi or is that also assisted with any pumps ?

I'd suggest contacting the local company that maintains the system and find out, if in time of need, is the irrigation line shut down to help conserve water for firefighting needs.

That would require the water source is roughly 200 feet above the taps to get 85psi out of it. Seems unlikely?

 

[Aaron_W]

That would require the water source is roughly 200 feet above the taps to get 85psi out of it. Seems unlikely?

Depends on the local terrain. I worked on an Army base in Arizona that was served by water tanks on the side of a mountain. The hydrants on the main 16" lines ran 120+ psi.

Those were some hot hydrants, had more than one crew blow the cap right off the overflow pipe when filling.

 

[atthebeach]

The irrigation reservoir is easily 200 or 300 feet higher in elevation than my house and it is just gravity fed. I'd have to check, but I don't think there would any reason to shut off the system in the event of a fire as it is located up a canyon on a dead end road which would be a pretty dangerous place to send a truck to pump water in the middle of a wildfire. Helicopter aerial drops use a nearby reservoir where canyon walls and trees are not an issue.

 

[NUTTSGT]

That would require the water source is roughly 200 feet above the taps to get 85psi out of it. Seems unlikely?

Unlikely, but possible but that's why I was asking the question.

The irrigation reservoir is easily 200 or 300 feet higher in elevation than my house and it is just gravity fed. I'd have to check, but I don't think there would any reason to shut off the system in the event of a fire as it is located up a canyon on a dead end road which would be a pretty dangerous place to send a truck to pump water in the middle of a wildfire. Helicopter aerial drops use a nearby reservoir where canyon walls and trees are not an issue.

I would still check first. I don't want to see you outlaying any cash only to find out what you bought is going to be worthless if that line is shut down.

You never know, in the end, you may find that the garden hose and a sprinkler let on may be your best option when things go to ****. Always err on the side of safety, life safety before property conservation.

 

[Ilikeike]

That would require the water source is roughly 200 feet above the taps to get 85psi out of it. Seems unlikely?

yep, .433 psi per ft. 2.31 ft/psi

 

[GMCGarage]

I have some questions for the fire hose experts here.

I have the recommended 30' defensible space in back of my garage, but beyond that is a steep downward hillside with dry grass, brush, and some small trees. It would be rather dangerous to clear this fuel beyond 30' as it is quite steep and the footing is poor. My garage has wood siding with a composition shingle roof, and we have a history of wildfires in my area; so I am concerned about fire.

I have a 1 1/2" irrigation water line (85 psi) running under ground towards the rear of the garage, and it would be fairly easy to tap into this line to connect a fire hose that would remain permanently installed on the outside wall of the garage. If there ever was a fire back there, this hose could be quickly put into service to wet down the back of the garage and hillside until the fire department could respond.

I have looked at fire hoses on Amazon, but the number of poor reviews have caused me to look elsewhere. I am not looking for the lowest cost if the quality or reliability is going to be problematic.

I am currently considering a 1 1/2" forestry hose offered by American Fire Hose and Cabinet. http://www.americanfirehose.com/fire-hoses/forestry-hose

A forestry hose is supposed to be lighter in weight, so I'm thinking it would be easier for a guy like me to control. I am looking for advice if this is a reputable brand and supplier. Is there another supplier I should be considering? I would appreciate any advice the experts on here can offer.

I would go with some lighter 1" line, or perhaps a 1" rigid hose. The whole geography around your place is going to dictate if you would be successful or not if the big one hits.

You also might invest in a foam system too to protect structures.

What volume do you get from your line, have you checked that?