Book excerpt: Understanding hydraulics and pump operations doesn’t have to be difficult, and it is of key importance to the science of fire engineering. Putting all the pieces together correctly so that the right stream is brought to the fire is essential to effective fireground operations. In the second edition of Fire Service Hydraulics and Pump Operations, author Paul Spurgeon, engineer/pump operator with the Denver Fire Department, breaks down the sometimes difficult-to-understand formulas of hydraulics and pumps into easily learned steps, 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. The second edition includes numerous updates and additions, including the Rule of Thumb chapter that illustrates how to perform these complex calculations while under stress on the fireground. This text meets the learning objectives for FESHE Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply course work. Features and Benefits: • Summary of chapter formulas • End-of-chapter tests with answers • Practice sets with answers to further test your understanding