Tank to Pump

Pump Operations

Forward Lay

A forward lay runs supply hose from the water source toward the fire, dropping the line at the hydrant and laying in to the scene. It puts the attack engine at the fire with the supply line coming to it.

A street schematic with a water source (hydrant) on the left, a burning building on the right, and a supply line laid between them. A "drop here" marker, the engine's position, and a drive-direction arrow flip end-for-end between the two lays: a forward lay anchors the line at the source and drives the engine to the fire, while a reverse lay anchors at the fire and drives the engine back to the source.

Forward vs reverse lay · interactive

FORWARD LAYDrop the supply line at the water source, then drive to the fire paying out hose. The rig finishes at the fire, pumping its own attack lines; the source feeds the supply line forward to it.

Lay type

Forward lay: you drop the line AT THE WATER and drive UP TO THE FIRE. The engine arrives at the fire ready to work, fed forward from the source.

Both lays are correct techniques — the choice is dictated by where the water sits relative to the fire and what the first-arriving company must do. A working hydrant feeds the supply line at about 70psi static; the lay only decides which end you anchor and which way you drive. This is a training aid; follow your department's SOPs and apparatus placement guidelines.

Forward lay drops the supply line at the water source and drives to the fire; reverse lay drops at the fire and drives back to the source. Pick a lay to flip the dropped end, the engine's finishing spot, and the drive-direction arrow.

In a forward lay the first-in apparatus drops a supply line at the hydrant and drives toward the fire, paying out hose as it goes. A second crew or a hydrant gate makes the hydrant connection, sending water forward to the engine working at the scene.

The choice between a forward and a reverse lay shapes where the pumper ends up and who controls the hydrant. A forward lay keeps the attack engine close to the fire, which suits a strong hydrant that can push supply the length of the lay.

See also