To be sure all of WGFC's fire hose is safe to use and ready for all emergencies, every year WGFC has all hose inspected and tested to the National Fire Protection Association 1962 standards (Standard for the Care, Use, Inspection, Service Testing, and Replacement of Fire Hose, Couplings, Nozzles, and Fire Hose Appliances).

Testing nearly 3 miles of hose is a complex, multi-day operation, because the hose has to be pulled off each truck, hooked to a testing apparatus that fills the hose to test pressure, and then repacked. And that means all trucks have to be brought to a central location from each of our three stations – all while keeping enough equipment and hose in service for any emergency that comes in during the test period. We take great pride in keeping our hose packed and clean to the best of our ability.

Each of the three Engines carries more than 2,000 feet of hose in various sizes, and there is also a large quantity of hose on the Rescue and Tanker. Even the Brush and Ladder carry hose -- all of it undergoes testing -- including hundreds of feet of standby hose stored at each of the three fire stations. This year, only two sections of hose had issues and had to be pulled from service.