A soft suction hose is primarily used to connect a pumper to what?

A soft suction hose is primarily used to connect a pumper to a water source, which typically includes sources like ponds, lakes, or other bodies of water. This type of hose is designed to be flexible and lightweight, making it easier to handle during operations, especially when drawing water from locations that may not have fire hydrant access.

While a hydrant is a water source, the term "soft suction hose" is specifically meant for connecting to unpressurized sources of water rather than the pressurized systems provided by hydrants. Fire trucks and fire engines are terms that often refer to the delivery apparatus which may include the water pumps, but they are not the source of the water itself. The focus on connecting to a natural or static body of water aligns with the primary function of the soft suction hose in firefighting operations.