Book excerpt: Author Paul Spurgeon, engineer/pump operator with the Denver Fire Department, breaks down into easily learned steps the sometimes difficult-to-understand formulas of hydraulics and pumps, taking care to explain the hows and whys of each formula discussed. Using an in-the-street, practical approach, Spurgeon teaches readers how to develop proper fire streams as well as how they relate to overall fireground strategies. He covers hydraulics and pumps extensively--from the properties of water to its supply to pumping to sprinkler systems and foams. So readers can put what they've learned into practice, Spurgeon provides both end-of-chapter tests and practice sets at the end of the book, complete with answers so that readers can check their knowledge. This text meets the learning objectives for FESHE Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply course work.