By BOB SHOVALD
Next to emergency medical services equipment, preconnected hoselines are probably the most used equipment on the engine. Yet, when designing and specifying new apparatus, we put preconnects and (especially) crosslays usually where they will fit or where we always put them-on top of the pump module. Unfortunately, because our engines have become larger, requiring more and more storage and featuring larger water tanks, the crosslays and hosebeds are placed higher and higher in the engines, which presents concerns and safety issues for firefighters who must now reach higher or even step up onto the apparatus when deploying these lines.
Over the years, the Coeur d'Alene (ID) Fire Department has tried several types of crosslay configurations, some good and some not so good. We have had the traditional double-wide flat loads, single stacks, minuteman loads, and speedlays with removable trays and bumper lines. One benefit of having had different configurations is that our firefighters have a pretty good idea of what they like and what they don't like and what works and what doesn't work. Everyone has an opinion, and they are generally willing to share it.
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