Cradling the Hose

There's an evolution down here that's probably as old as the fire department itself. It's called cradling the hose, and it's the hardest thing I can think of. It's not easy to explain but I'll try - please bear with me.

Three recruits work together as a team to move 150' of hose charged at 250gpm* from one end of the ground to the other (approx. 150' end to end.) There are three 'doors' which you are required to point your nozzle at and discharge water through. One at each end and one in the middle. Between the doors and the pumper truck which the hose is attached to are a few obstacles. You must lift the hose over these obstacles (pylons) as you move from one door to the other at the whistle. Each man is responsible for a part of the hose and must not let the couplings (where the hose connects) drag on the ground or knock over the pylons. Discharge water through a door, shut off the nozzle, move to cradling positions, cradle to the next door (usually the farthest one away from the one you're at) and discharge water through it. You rotate positions until each recruit has had three minutes at each station (9min.)

It's exhausting. Some how they find a way to make the last hardest thing you had to do seem like it wasn't all that hard after all. They challenge us everyday and we'll be better for it - we'll have to be.

In other news, a few big players from TEEX at College Station came to the academy to notify us that we would be going to Walgreen's tomorrow afternoon to get a meningitis shot. Apparently it's not really up for discussion, it's more like a field trip. If you're in class for more than 300 hours you're required by state law to be vaccinated. Well, at least we get to go out for lunch...

*gallons per minute, as reference a hydrant pushes about 70-80gpm.