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Revolutionary New Illuminating Fire Hose Being Developed at NAVAIR Lakehurst

NAVAIR Release

Press Release Number: ELK200307171

Release Date: 7/17/2003

It is estimated that about 37.5% of firefighter fatalities involve firefighters losing contact with their fire hoses and then running out of air. In most instances, the lifesaving hose line was only a few feet away.

With all the smoke, heat and confusion that can accompany a fire, it is very easy to see how these potentially fatal accidents can occur. Wouldn't it be tremendous if something could be done to minimize or eliminate this problem?

That's exactly what Fire Chief Richard Strasser and Roger Brown, both of the NAVAIR Lakehurst New Jersey Fire Division thought when they came up with the idea of an illuminating fire hose. What started as a simple task of rolling-up a fire hose during a training session resulted in U.S. Patent 6,257,750 eventually being issued to Strasser and Brown.

Glancing down while rolling the hose, Strasser's eye was caught by the red stripe woven into the hose and he thought "if this red stripe could be lit somehow, how might it impact fire service safety and efficiency?" Strasser enlisted the help of fellow fighter and friend Roger Brown and together they refined the concept and created a product that could well have a permanent positive impact on fire fighting safety throughout the world.

"Moonlight Hose", named as a tribute to Strasser's late father, James Mooney, aka "Moon" (himself a 25 year veteran of the Bloomfield, NJ Fire Department), is an illuminating fire hose that assists a lost and disoriented fire fighter to quickly locate the hose providing a lifeline to the outside. The illuminating fire hose also provides a means for the Firefighter Assistance and Search Team (FAST) to follow a light path and quickly locate a lost or trapped individual.

Another benefit of using the side-light fiber optic lighting system imbedded within the outer jacket of the hose line is the fact that it can have a variety of color change options that would allow for communication via a color code system. The hose requires virtually no maintenance, can have multiple fixtures per light source and produces no heat, gas or electricity.

According to Strasser, "this hose would be ideal for use aboard ships and boats due to their maze-like configurations in very dark and close quarters. It would be very useful in guiding fire fighters in and out of the danger zone." Strasser also stated that the hose is very functional outdoors at night where fire fighters in helmets and face shields can be prone to tripping over hoses in the dark. "With the Moonlight Hose, this problem is virtually eliminated," according to Strasser.

Presently, Strasser and Brown are developing and field testing three prototypes of the Moonlight Hose, with the intent of having a final product available later this year. They hope to encourage fire departments throughout the country to adopt this revolutionary new "lifesaving" hose.