09/02/2026
š§ 370 Gallons. Thatās Why.
When youāre fighting fire in a rural community, every gallon matters.
Northern Wake Fire Department recently transitioned to 4-inch supply hose, and last night B Shift and our volunteer firefighters trained on the new hose system.
Hereās the simple math:
ā
1,000 feet of 5-inch hose holds approximately 1,020 gallons of water
ā
1,000 feet of 4-inch hose holds approximately 650 gallons of water
ā
Thatās nearly 370 additional gallons available for firefighting operations instead of sitting inside the hose
We recognize that 5-inch hose is capable of moving a greater volume of water.
However, our analysis of past incidents has shown that when we transition into a large-scale water supply operation involving drop tanks and tanker shuttles, we have often reached a point where the fire has already gained a significant advantage.
Our goal is to put more usable water on the fire sooner.
By reducing the amount of water stored in the hose itself, we can maximize the water immediately available for fire attack during those critical first minutes. Those early moments are often when firefighters have the greatest opportunity to stop fire spread, reclaim transitional space, and improve the chances of saving the structure.
The change to 4-inch supply hose is one part of a larger strategy focused on:
š Faster fire attack
š§ More immediately available water
ā±ļø Improved water delivery during the most critical phase of the incident
š Better outcomes for the citizens and businesses we serve
Training together and continuously evaluating our operations helps ensure we are prepared to meet the challenges of a growing community.
Train hard. Train together. Be ready.
