When discussing attack line tactics, one of the most important points to remember is for the Nozzle Firefighter to always show up at the door with, at least, 1 section of hose often referred to as the “working length”.  This working length is intended to ensure that the Nozzle Firefighter has sufficient line to advance into the fire area and accomplish extinguishment.  What about the 100 feet or so behind the working length? Who manages that hose and how?

Regardless of staffing, there are certain objectives, or good practices, that all engine companies should try to accomplish that will aid in advancing the attack line into the structure.

• Load the line properly and neatly in the first place. A line loaded nicely will deploy nicely.
• When stretching the line, the second firefighter on the line needs to either have the next 2 sections (100 ft.) on their shoulder or grab the next coupling behind the working length. By grabbing the coupling you eliminate the possibility of it becoming snagged during the advance as well as move 2 sections of line
• Spread out on the line. The fire building should be crowded enough.  Implement a Control Firefighter position whose job it is move line from outside to inside the building and, once the line is in, chase kinks and snags to ensure the line keeps moving.
• Train on ways to effectively move line with limited manpower and physical exertion. The pictures above demonstrate the “loop” method for moving extra hose into a building.  This method requires very little physical effort to move and you can “roll” the loops in the hallway instead of having to find somewhere to flake out line.

Often times, we focus on the end and forget about the means, getting water on the fire but not considering how to get water to fire.  This often results in either a scramble by the attack crew to find out why the line will not move or assigning additional resources to help get the line moving again.  In both cases time and/or resources are wasted and risk to operating crews and possible victims is increased.

There should be little debate that the most important tactic on the fireground is getting the first attack line in service and on the fire.  Keeping the line moving is the most important factor in making that happen. We have to train to be coordinated and proficient at every fire.  Use the smells-and-bells and the “bread and better fires” to hone skills like these so that the next challenging fire you run turns out the way we all want it to.

Practicing these concepts will get the next 100 feet of line through the door and give the Nozzle Firefighter the best chance to use his working length effectively.

Thanks and Be SAFE