Great lengths

 

We call hose ‘our lifeline in a fire’.

 

With more than 2,000 kilometres in service across the state – that's enough to stretch from Melbourne to Townsville – it is a vital part of CFA’s capability to respond in an emergency.

But the tiniest pinhole can put a hose out of service, and more importantly, render it a safety and injury risk.

When a brigade’s hose is taken offline because of damage or a fault, CFA’s specialist hose repair brigades step in to ensure hoses are expertly repaired, tested and returned, ready to bowl out another day.

Their members are trained to safely and expertly repair and test hose faults to ensure this vital life-saving equipment is returned to brigades for use as fast as possible.

Hose can get damaged in several ways depending on the type of incident including abrasion, heat, chemical exposure, mechanical damage, improper storage and general wear and tear. Rural brigades dealing mainly with grass and bushfires will more often experience holes or burnt patches, while urban brigades, especially those attending structure fires, may more frequently see large cuts from building materials.

Echuca Fire Brigade Fire Equipment Maintenance Officer Charles Dennis said the hose testing regime was vital to member safety, giving them confidence in the equipment they are using.

“It’s very important that our hose systems work well,” Charles said. “When you couple a hose to a tanker on the fireground you want to be confident you are not at risk it’s going to burst under the pressure.”

Echuca provides Fire Equipment Maintenance (FEM) services to its community, and branched out into hose repair after getting involved in the district’s coupling replacement program. They have been providing hose and coupling repair to brigades in District 20 for almost two years.

“The main work we do is repairing holes, patching and coupling replacement, with our busiest time between November and March due to the increase in fire calls across the fire season,” Charles said.

“We definitely see a propensity for more hose damage in those areas with more scrub land and with brigades outside the urban fringe; fabric hose can be punctured easily being dragged across stones and shrapnel.

“A hose has to be pretty badly damaged before it becomes unusable. Accredited members make sure it’s not only repaired to all CFA standards but that it is tested so it is safe to use straight away if needed.

“While there’s a small financial benefit to the brigade, providing hose repair is a way to give back to the CFA family, and we’re happy to provide the service to brigades and get the job done as soon as possible.”

Geelong West Fire Brigade has provided hose and coupling repair as a service to brigades in District 7 since 2022. The brigade repairs about five to six lengths of hose each week, and similar to Echuca, Geelong West FEM Officer Harry Williams said it was a way members could support neighbouring and district brigades to remain operational.

“Hoses are vital to our firefighting efforts and because damage is so common, quick and reliable repairs ensure we can return equipment to brigades in top working condition. This helps maintain readiness for future incidents,” Harry said.

“Funds raised through hose repairs directly benefit our brigade, supporting our operations and enabling us to purchase new equipment, maintain facilities and service vehicles.

“However, for our members it’s a way of contributing to the broader firefighting community and ensuring that everyone can get back on the frontline quickly.

“Additionally, members gain valuable skills in repairing and maintaining essential firefighting equipment, which enhances their overall knowledge and preparedness.”

 

Submitted by	News and Media