Three 50-foot 1 ½ inch lengths of hose
Hose races are timed events where firefighters test their skills. Teams of five members must connect nozzles to hoses, hoses to hoses, and hoses to the fire hydrant, and knock down targets in the quickest time in the ladder, wye, and straight lay races. Hose races improve basic firefighting skills. The races are open to any and all fire departments.
Wye Contest
The Wye Race consists of a five member team competing to hook up to a hydrant; break 150 feet of 2 ½ inch hose into a wye; run the 100 foot course; and flow water threw the two nozzles knocking down two targets in the quickest time.
Equipment Required
Course Setup
Each team shall be allowed 5 minutes to drain hose, lay out equipment and be on the starting line ready to run. The three lengths of hose are individually rolled to drain. The hose must be “hand un-rolled” NOT thrown. After the hose is drained, three 50-foot lengths of 2 ½ inch hose shall be coupled and laid in a straight line flat on the running course. Open female coupling shall be at hydrant line mark in center of course. Hose may be folded at hydrant line. Hydrant wrench, female swivel end wye and two straight-type nozzles to be placed on starting line 25 feet from hydrant.
Lineup
The lineup along the starting line should be as follows: Nozzle Person 1, Wye Person, Hydrant Person, Nozzle Person 2 (without nozzle), Drag Person (with nozzle).
Race
Once the team assembles on the starting line the judge will ask the team captain if the team is ready. Once the team captain verbally signals the team is ready the judge starts the race with flag and verbal command to start. At starting signal, contestants shall carry hydrant wrench, wye and nozzles, couple hose to hydrant, break hose and put in wye at first coupling, couple two lengths to wye and put on nozzles. The time for the race is to be taken from starting signal to when each individual stream has made a direct hit on a separate target 125 feet from hydrant with a solid stream of water. Coupling, hydrant, nozzle connection progress must be stopped as soon as the targets and knocked down.
Team Assignments
Nozzle Person 1 – Nozzle Person 1 is first on the starting line closest to the hydrant. Upon the starting signal nozzle person 1 grabs the nozzle and runs down the street to the second set of couplings. Nozzle person 1 breaks the hose with Drag person at the second couplings. Nozzle person 1 faces the targets during the break. Nozzle person one then connects the 2 ½ nozzles to the male 2 ½ hose ends, connecting to the drag line second. Nozzle person 1 then uses the drag line to stray down the target. Any “turns” on the nozzle/coupling connections result in a second penalty per turn.
Wye Person – The wye person is second on the starting line. Upon the starting signal the wye person grabs the wye and runs down the street to the first set of couplings. The wye person breaks the couplings with the nozzle person 2 facing the targets. After the break the wye person places their knee directly behind the male coupling on the hose and connects the wye. Once the connection is started they tell the nozzle 2 person they are on. The wye person finishes their connection as well as the nozzle 2 person connection. Any turns on any of the wye connects result in a second(s) penalty.
Hydrant Person – The hydrant person is third on the starting line in the middle of the street. Upon the starting signal the hydrant person grabs the hydrant wrench, runs to the female end of the hose on the hydrant line, grabs the hose and proceeds to the hydrant. The hydrant person then spins the 2 ½ cap off of the hydrant and connects the hose. The hydrant person then “floods” the first length of hose by turning the hydrant on slowly. When the drag man indicates they are connected to the wye at the first couplings by yelling “water” the hydrant man turns the hydrant on the rest of the way. The hydrant person turns the hydrant off after the target is knocked down. Any turns on the hydrant hose connection result in a second(s) penalty.
Nozzle Person 2 – The nozzle person 2 is fourth on the starting line away from the hydrant. Upon the starting signal nozzle person 2 runs down the street to the first couplings and breaks with the wye person with their back to the targets. After the wye person connects the wye to the first length of hose and says they are “on” the nozzle person 2 connects the female end of the 2nd length of hose to the wye, opposite of where the drag person is coming into the wye. The connection should be made about half way. After connected half way, nozzle person 2 leaves the wye and runs down the street to the second set of couplings, takes the nozzle and sprays down the target.
Drag Person – The drag person is fifth on the starting line farthest away from the hydrant. Upon the starting signal the drag person takes the nozzle and runs down the street to the second couplings and breaks with nozzle person 1 with their back to the targets. After the break the drag person “drags” the third hose length between their legs to the wye and connects the female end of the hose to the wye. Once connected they yell for water and finish their connection. Any turns on any of the wye connects result in a second(s) penalty.
A good Wye Contest time is between 20 and 25 seconds depending upon water pressure.
Straight Lay Contest
The Straight Lay consists of a five member team competing to hook up to a hydrant; connect three lengths of 2 ½ inch hose and nozzle; run the 150 foot course; and flow water threw a nozzle knocking down the target in the quickest time.
Equipment Required
Course Setup
Each team shall be allowed 5 minutes to drain hose, lay out equipment and be on the starting line ready to run. The three lengths of hose are individually rolled to drain. The hose must be “hand un-rolled” NOT thrown. After the hose is drained, three 50-foot lengths of 2 ½ inch hose shall be donut rolled and placed on the hydrant line. Open female couplings shall face hydrant side of course. Hydrant wrench and straight type nozzle to be placed on starting line 25 feet away from the hydrant line.
Lineup
The lineup along the starting line should be as follows: Hydrant person (closest to hydrant), hydrant hookup person, connector 1 person, connector 2 person, nozzle person (farthest from hydrant).
Race
Once the team assembles on the starting line the judge will ask the team captain if the team is ready. Once the team captain verbally signals the team is ready the judge starts the race with flag and verbal command to start. At starting signal, contestants shall couple hose to hydrant, couple remaining 2 ½ hose lines, stretch donut rolled hose lines the length of the course, and put on nozzle. Thread penalty turns shall NOT be counted in this race. The time for the race is to be taken from starting signal to when individual stream has made a direct hit on a target 175 feet from hydrant with a solid stream of water.
Team Assignments
Hydrant Person – The hydrant person is first on the starting line closest to the hydrant. Upon the starting signal the hydrant person grabs the hydrant wrench and runs to the hydrant. They place the wrench on the ground and proceed to spin the 2 ½ cap off the
hydrant so the hydrant hookup person can connect the hose to the hydrant. Once the hydrant hookup person is connected and sat they are “on” the hydrant person turns the hydrant on. The hydrant person turns the hydrant off after the target is knocked down.
Hydrant Hookup Person – The hydrant hookup person is second in line on the starting line and hooks the 2 ½ female end of the hose to the hydrant after the hydrant person spins the cap off. Upon the starting signal, the hydrant hookup person grabs the hose, comes into position on both knees, square to the hydrant, and hooks the hose up to the hydrant. Knee pads are not required but a good idea. The hydrant hookup person should be low enough to the ground so the hydrant person can turn the hydrant on. The coupling should be attached all the way to the hydrant. Any “turns” on the coupling result in a second penalty per turn. The hydrant hookup person should verbally tell the hydrant person they “are on” once the hose is connected so the hydrant person can begin turning the hydrant on and flowing water.
Connector 1 Person – The connector 1 person is third on the starting line. Upon the starting signal the connector 1 person runs to the hydrant line and connects the first and second lengths of hose. Once connected they yell (1) and proceed to stretch the first hose length down the street. They should be careful not to pull the length out of the hands of the hydrant hook up person.
Connector 2 Person – The connector 2 person is fourth on the starting line. Upon the starting signal the connector 2 person runs to the hydrant line and connects the second and third lengths of hose. Once connected they yell (2) and proceed to stretch the second hose length down the street. They should be careful not to pull the length out of the hands of the connector 1 person.
Nozzle Person – The nozzle person is fifth in line on the starting line, farthest away from the hydrant. Upon the starting signal the nozzle person connects the 2 ½ nozzle to the 2 ½ male hose end and runs down the street. While running the hose should be place under the arm. They should be careful not to pull the length out of the hands of the connector 2 person. The nozzle person then sprays a stream of water knocking the target down.