Once you’ve scene the video from the “Straight Stream vs. Fog” post (January 13, 2009), you may have a new appreciation for using a straight stream during interior fire attack.  Next we’ll look at a few ways to make the interior fire attack more safe and effective from entry to ventilation.

We’re going to start at the door to the fire room.  Once you find the fire room and are able to make entry, you may need to close the door to double check your stream shape, give your crew time to back you up, make sure you have enough line to advance and finish the attack or get water (in a MFD or commercial) situation.  Once you open the door, everyone should stay low and let the smoke, heat and fire blow off prior to making entry.  In other words “stay low and let it blow”.

Once you make entry, get out of the doorway and inside the room preferably on or near a wall.  However, don’t go past the point of no return.  “The point of no return inside a doorway is the point beyond which there is no escape if the room flashes over.” (Vincent Dunn, Deputy Chief FDNY (ret.), April, May June 2005 Newsletter).

Now you’re inside the room, on the wall and ready to make your attack.  A great method for a safe fire attack is the “5-sided Fire Attack”.  This type of attack covers everything for controlling and/or advancing on a fire.  The fives sides include the ceiling (1), sidewalls (2&3), directly ahead (4) and the floor in front of you (5).  You can accomplish a 5-sided fire attack with either the “O” or “Z” combination patterns.  It is particularly important to hit the ceiling FIRST and to sweep the floor in front BEFORE advancing.

You have to cool the upper atmosphere to minimize steam and give victims the best chance for survival.  Then, by sweeping the floor with the stream, you can cool any embers, “wash away” debris and hear water falling through holes in the floor.

Once the fire is knocked, another forgotten tactic is for the nozzle firefighter to hydraulically ventilate the fire area (if possible).  This is especially important today since so many FD are understaffed and exterior truck work is slow to be accomplished.  Once the fire is out, the only thing left to kill victims is the heat, smoke and steam.  So hydraulically ventilate and GET IT OUT!

Now that the fire is under control, it’s cooler and everyone can see, now all we have to do is overhaul and critique the fire.

Remember the basics!  The only thing that is scarcer than fighting fire is being on the nozzle when fires happen.  The only thing you can do train and be ready.

FTM-PTB and Be Safe