An illuminating fire hose includes a fire hose (16) having a first end (22), a second end (24), an interior wall and an exterior wall remote from the interior wall. The fire hose (16) has at least one light emitting element (30) exposed at the exterior surface of the fire hose (16) for selectively emanating light. The light emitting element (30) is preferably attached to the exterior surface of the fire hose using adhesive or securing threads for sewing the light emitting element to the exterior surface of the hose (16). The light emitting element (30) may include a fiber optic cable, a chemiluminescent cable or a series of light emitting diodes. The light emitting element (30) is activated during a fire to provide fire fighters with a visible marker that may be seen in a darkened and/or smoke-filled enclosure.
