One of the simpler, yet vitally important, pieces of equipment that every rural engine company should carry is the chaffing block. This homemade tool consists of nothing more than a ¾-inch piece of plywood cut to effectively prop up hose or hard sleeve. The dimensions of the chaffing block are not exact, and firefighters should cut them to meet their specific needs and apparatus compartments. While there are a variety of ways this tool can be used on the fireground, it is most beneficial when a single firefighter is attempting to connect two pieces of 6-inch hard sleeve together.
Any firefighter who has attempted to connect two lengths of hard sleeve together by himself knows that this task is nearly impossible because of the size and rigidity of the hard sleeve. To do this singlehandedly, the operator should rest the male end of one of the hard sleeves on the chaffing block so that the male threads are suspended in the air. The operator should then place the female end of the other section between his legs and clamp onto it using his shins. This will allow his hands to be free to guide the male coupling toward the female coupling and thread the two together. If more than two sections need to be connected, the solo operator continues this process using the chaffing block as the “second set of hands.”
From “Equipment for Effective Rural Water Supply Operations, Part 2,” by Andy Soccodato and Bill Adkins
