What is with all the Booster Lines in the U.K.?

NOTE: I first posted this in the Scottish FF area but wasn't getting any feedback, save for one suggestion to post it in the main area... so here it is:

I first thought it was just "Hollywood U.K." making technical errors on shows like "London's Burning" and such... but I keep seeing it in news footage now as well.

Why do I keep seeing U.K. firefighters using little one inch "Booster" Lines for their primary interior (or even exterior) attack lines?

I am seeing them being used in the U.K. for significantly involved structure fires... not low intensity ones or mop-up.

Without the right volume of water going onto a fire, I see a delay in putting it out and even a danger to the interior attack crew. There are times when an inch-an-a-half is not big enough for interior attack.

Can someone enlighten me?

Are there different materials in U.K. homes that make the fire less intense?

Also the bunker gear I see (mostly the LFB because of the BBC and YouTube) APPEARS to be thinner than North American interior rated bunker gear... looks more like the "exterior-only" bunker gear (which my department has banned for safety reasons - don't want anyone accidently donning exterior-only gear for an interior attack). Is that the case? If it has the same protection rating, why haven't we moved to it to lighten our load? Or is there just a completely different style of interior search and supression that allows for lighter PPE?

Thanks for helping to satisfy my curiosity!

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Permalink Reply by Lars Ågerstrand on November 1, 2010 at 5:39pm

The paper added by John Kriska earlier in the thread describes very good the differences and the reasons for the use of hose reels.

Sweden (as most of Europe) works very similar as the paper from Dublin, small high pressure hose reels (580psi, 40gal/min) is often used as the primary attack line. Though that only applies to apartments, car fires, smaller villas etc. In fully developed fires, industrial buildings etc a 1,6 inch line is used instead.

Though if you visit different stations they may say totally different things, some hate it others love it, the world of firefighting:-)

But in my experience there have been very few occasions where more water is needed than the hose reels gives if applied correctly.
Offensive ventilation, defensive ventilation, air track management, cutting extinguisher, fog spikes, CAFS, anti ventilation, CFBT etc etc are many tools to use together with water. Based on the situation the correct approach to the fire will minimize the water needed and make the attack as safe as possible.
The building constructions and the fact that we have less firefighters at each incident also greatly adds to the fact that we do not "open up" buildings to the extent that the US does, therefore the need for much water is smaller.

Regarding the bunker gear is a simple question, we have the same stuff, it is just a matter of taste. Our gear before was very thick and the new ones are much thinner, I must say that I like the new ones much better, the difference in the fire is not that big but all other tasks are Much better. In general it is never the clothes that stop us, it is the fact that if it is that hot you are doing something wrong and you need to correct it.
But when someone in a moment of stupidity (I am so cool moment) loads the fire trainer with too much fuel then it gets hot, but in general it is the face piece that fails first. But again, in reality that would/should not happen since there is no reason for us to be in there, no life to save and the fire could be stopped using other methods.

What is with all the Booster Lines in the U.K.?

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