Going Long: Stretching 300’ and Beyond with the Supply Side Leadout

Access to certain structures can be difficult. Long setbacks, extended driveways, garden apartments, and large commercial footprints all challenge the traditional 200’ preconnect. Because of this, every engine company should carry at least one line capable of “going long,” along with a clear game plan for stretching it quickly and efficiently. The exact length needed will depend on your district, but simply having the hose isn’t enough — crews must be comfortable deploying it.

This article examines a hose stretch technique known as the Supply Side Leadout. While the method can be adapted for use with a traditional 200’ preconnect, it becomes especially valuable when deploying longer hose loads of 300 feet or more. This article uses a 300’ × 1¾” preconnected attack line to illustrate the technique, but my engine company also applies the same concept when stretching our 400’ deadload of 2½” hose.

For this stretch to work effectively, the hose should be loaded as either a flat load or a modified minuteman load. For the purposes of this article, the technique will be illustrated using a flat load, as that is what my engine company runs.

Our engine carries a 1¾” × 300’ attack line off the rear of the apparatus. The hose bed is arranged with a loop every 100 feet and includes a clear loop located after the first fold in the bed. This configuration allows firefighters to quickly identify and pull sections of hose during the stretch.

How to Stretch It

Firefighter #1 begins by shouldering the first section of hose. For our engine, this is the top 100 feet. As Firefighter #1 steps away from the engine, they should move in the direction of the intended stretch. For example, if the fire building is to the right of the apparatus, Firefighter #1 should take a couple steps to the right as they move away from the rig.

Once Firefighter #1 has cleared enough space, Firefighter #2 shoulders the next section of hose; for my engine this is another 100 feet. After this section is shouldered, Firefighter #1 returns to the hose bed and pulls the remaining section of hose, which is the final 100 feet.

When pulling the last 100’ hose, Firefighter #1 should grab a fold approximately halfway up the remaining bundle (roughly 50 feet mark) along with the clear loop at the bottom of the load. This will clear the bed quickly while still being able to easily flake out. 

At this point, both firefighters are positioned with hose shouldered. Firefighter #2 now leads the stretch toward the objective. This is intentional because once the pull section is deployed, the hose on Firefighter #2’s shoulder will be the first to flake off.

As Firefighter #2 moves forward, Firefighter #1 drags the final section of hose behind them (see Picture 1). The clear loop will pull tight first. When this occurs, Firefighter #1 should drop that loop while maintaining control of the 50’ fold. Once the 50’ loop pulls tight, it should also be dropped.

When the bottom 100 feet of hose is fully deployed, Firefighter #1 should communicate this to Firefighter #2. This lets Firefighter #2 know that once the line pulls tight, the hose on their shoulder should begin flaking off. If Firefighter #2 feels the hose pull tight before Firefighter #1 communicates that the bottom 100’ is flaked, they know that the hose caught on a pinch point somewhere and to not let the hose begin flaking off their shoulder bundle yet.

Once Firefighter #2’s shoulder load has deployed, the stretch naturally transitions. Firefighter #1 moves past to continue advancing the line while Firefighter #2 drops behind the nozzle to manage the remaining hose and address any friction points (see Picture 3). As the crew closes in on the objective, the final 100’ section carried by Firefighter #1 can begin deploying to finish the stretch and position the line for the attack.

Upon reaching the destination, Firefighter #1 can place the hose on their shoulder onto the ground and flake out the hose as needed to properly position the line for the attack.

There is a video example of this on the Iowa Firefighter Training Article Archive website (tinyurl.com/3mpjcsuv).

Why the Supply Side Leads

Many engine companies traditionally stretch bulk hose loads with the nozzle firefighter leading while the second firefighter shoulders additional hose and follows behind. While this method works, it has several drawbacks.

During a traditional stretch, nobody is watching the back end of the line. Friction points at corners, doorways, or stair landings can go unnoticed. The nozzle firefighter may feel tension in the line and mistakenly begin flaking hose early, thinking the line has run out when it is actually hung up somewhere behind them.

By allowing the supply side firefighter to lead the stretch, these problems are reduced. The nozzle firefighter can stay focused on the back end of the line, managing friction points and ensuring the hose moves cleanly around corners, through doors, and up stairs (see Picture 2).

This approach is especially valuable for three-person engine companies.

On three-person crews, the officer often has to assist with stretching the line, which limits their ability to move ahead of the hose line, perform reconnaissance, open doors, and ensure the stretch is accurate. In single-family dwellings this may be manageable, but in multi-family occupancies it can quickly become problematic.

Using the supply side leadout allows the driver/operator to assume the supply side role, leading out the stretch while the nozzle firefighter manages the line behind them. Once the driver’s shoulder load has deployed, they can communicate that the line is on the nozzle firefighter and begin working back toward the apparatus. As the driver returns to the rig, they retrace the stretch, ensuring the hose is free of kinks, not trapped in doorways, and properly aligned before making the connection and charging the line (see Picture 4).

All of this happens while the officer is free to work ahead of the line, confirming the location of the fire, controlling doors, and ensuring the first line is placed where it will have the greatest impact.

For engine companies operating with limited staffing or longer hose loads, the Supply Side Leadout can be a simple adjustment that significantly improves the efficiency and accuracy of the stretch. By allowing the supply side to lead out, crews can better manage friction points, maintain awareness of the back end of the line, and keep the stretch moving toward the objective. If your company has never experimented with this method, it is worth putting it on the training ground. You may find it quickly earns a place in your engine company’s playbook. 

-       Cole Kleinwolterink is a member of the Waukee Fire Department, Granger Fire Department, and Fire Science instructor at Des Moines Area Community College. Feel free to reach out to him at kleinwolterinkc@gmail.com with any questions, comments or inquiries.