Nothing is more fundamental, or important, when extinguishing a fire than stretching an attack line and putting water on the fire.  Yet, as fundamental as it is, there are some things to keep in mind that will help keep your attack line moving through a structure and keep you and your crew from having a really bad day.

1. Know your equipment: your hoseloads, nozzles, etc.
2. Know the strengths and weaknesses of your hoseloads (i.e. triple stacks are not great for stairs)
3. Make sure everyone knows their role within the crew
4. Spread out on the line. Assign Backup FF and Control FF positions w/ additional manpower.  The Backup FF helps the Nozzle FF advance during fire attack.  The Control FF stays at (or near) the point of entry, feeds hose from the exterior and chases kinks.
5. During the attack and advance on the fire, or whenever necessary, spray the floor ahead of the line to move debris, cool the floor and/or embers and check for “surprises”

These are just a few tips to help keep the line moving and make your attack on the fire a little easier, quicker and safer.  If you have any other ideas or suggestions, please feel free to leave your comments.

Thanks and Be SAFE

A few months ago, a group of Bluffton firefighters was asked to re-evaluate the Bluffton Township Fire District’s “high-Rise Packs”.  They were tasked with creating a standardized and cost-effective portable hose pack system that is user friendly, flexible and meets the current needs and future demands of the ever growing and changing fire district.

The group has been busy discussing, researching and testing many hose and nozzle configurations, holding a couple of dealer demos and having a standpipe prop developed for realistic and mobile standpipe training during both research and throughout implementation and ongoing training.  We have narrowed down the configurations with the following considerations in mind:

Bluffton typically (99.9% of the time) uses hose packs to extend handlines at large-house fires and brush fires

Bluffton has no high rises as defined by building code.  As such,  drastic friction loss is not a major problem and Pressure reducing valves are not used (we still considered reducing nozzle pressures and the limitations of fire pumps)

The Multi-story commercial and hotel occupancies that we do have are all built to current or recent code, well protected and well compartmented (usually with block or metal stud walls and concrete ceilings)

Current (typical) hose packs are cumbersome to store and use as well as not very adaptable to our primary needs.

We need a standard nozzle configuration that is user friendly and versatile.

NOTE: The nozzle we are testing is a Task Force Tips Break-apart nozzle with and 200+ gpm @ 50 psi, 1” smooth bore tip integrated into the shutoff and a 150 gpm @ 75 psi fog tip with a separate integrated twist shutoff.  This offers standard water for our standard uses and bigger water if you need it.  You can also extend the line at the main shutoff and use the fog tip on the extended section.

Recently, the BTFD conducted live fire training and focused on standpipe operations.  the crews were encouraged to used the standpipe packs currently in- service on their rigs.  Once they finished their scenarios, members of the Hose Pack Committee gave a demo of the leading configuration that we are looking at.  Unfortunately some people missed the demo, so the above video is for them and everyone else.  On behalf of the hose pack committee, we appreciate everyone’s feedback and look forward to the implementation phase.

Hopefully, we’ll get some video of the nozzle operating and extending lines and post some pics and video later on.

A special thanks to the Hose Pack Committee (Jason Brahm, Shawn Fitzpatrick, Jeff Laszig and Matt McDowell), Carolina Fire Control for the development and donation of the standpipe prop, the Marine Corps Air Station Fire Department for the use of their burn building and to the members of the Bluffton Township Fire District for your dedication.

FTM-PTB and Be Safe

Video soundtracks: “Lowrider” by War, “Sleep now in the fire” by Rage against the machine & “All My Life” by Foo Fighters

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

Among one of the greatest, and most historic debates in the fire service is the use of smooth bore versus fog nozzles.  What’s better and/or safer etc.?  A byproduct of that debate is hose stream selection for fire attack.  The question is, do you use a wide fog pattern, a narrow fog (a.k.a. power cone) or a straight (or solid) stream for offensive interior fire attack?  Watch this video and form your own conclusions.

At a recent training burn, great video was taken of many different people making interior attacks on pretty hot room and contents fires (nice, hot, smoky and confined areas where victims like to wait for us).  Jeff Kuehn, a firefighter and free-lance photographer created the video and provided great feedback on the conditions that he experienced as a “spectator” inside a room and contents fire.

Some points to ponder:

1. During the video, pay particular attention to the knockdown time and visibility.  In the first attack, visibility never really changes and knockdown is very quick.
2. You should always check your stream shape either during charging (you have to bleed the air anyway) and/or before making entry into fire area.
3. With a straight stream, cool the ceiling first, this will cool the upper atmosphere and help to limit steam production.  Hitting the base first can “swirl” the thermal layering and push the heat to the floor (ask Jeff).

A special thanks to Jeff Kuehn for use of the video and for taking so many great pictures.

Check out more of Jeff’s stuff at www.jeffkuehn.com

FTM-PTB and Be Safe