Summary: For a smooth rural hitch setup, the first-arriving engine must stop at the property entrance, drop a Clappered Siamese and one or two sections of supply hose, then proceed into the scene while laying line. The first tanker connects to the Siamese with a 3-inch line and waits until the engine is ready to receive water. This setup keeps the access road clear, speeds up water delivery, and can be managed solo by a single firefighter.
When you’re rolling up to a rural fire and there’s no hydrant in sight, the success of your water supply starts with how that first engine plays it. If you miss the setup at the top of the drive, you're already behind. Here’s how to set up a textbook rural hitch from the jump.
As tempting as it might be to drive straight to the structure, it may not be the best decision. Instructor Henry Lovett explains in this lesson how the first-due engine should stop at the entrance to the property or driveway in this particular scenario. This is your drop point — and it’s critical for the rest of the operation.
At the drop point:
Pull one or two sections of LDH or supply hose.
Drop the Clappered Siamese appliance.
Make sure it’s positioned so incoming tankers can access it without blocking the drive.
Once that’s done, the engine continues in, laying the line behind it and setting up for attack operations at the fire scene.
The first tanker to arrive isn’t headed into the scene. Instead, they stop where the Siamese is staged. From a suitable discharge on the pump, the tanker operator runs a 3-inch hose to one side of the Clappered Siamese.
This doesn’t take a crew — just one firefighter can handle the hookup with minimal effort. That’s a big win when staffing is tight.
The water doesn’t flow until the attack engine is ready. Once they’re set up and call for water, the tanker opens the valve, sending water through the 3-inch line, into the Siamese, and down the supply hose to the fireground.
This clean, one-lane, forward-only setup keeps the operation moving and the access road clear for more units.
Want to see it in action and find out why 3-inch hose is key? Check out the full video at TFT.com/rural-hitch.