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The First Line Determines the Result
A fundamental basic to any successful fireground operation is a successful initial hoseline stretch. It seems simple enough, so why should we drill on it so much? Three main reasons:
Errors in the initial stretch have resulted in firefighter injuries and fatalities
We go to fewer fires
Repetition builds confidence and proficiency
A proper size-up by the engine company should dictate that the correct diameter and length of hose is stretched to the fire building. Photo Courtesy FITHP.net
Errors Can Be Deadly
On March 21, 2003 Cincinnati Firefighter Oscar Armstrong died while participating in the advance of the initial handline at a single-family dwelling fire (Type III, 30-by-20 feet). Engine 9 arrived and front sleeved a hydrant across the street from the fire building. The engine officer and three firefighters stretched a 350-foot 1 3/4-inch handline to the front door while the driver made his connections. Finding the front door locked they proceeded to stretch the line to the rear but were stopped and redirected to the front by District Chief 4.
One firefighter left the line to retrieve an axe. Assisted by a firefighter from Engine 2, the Engine 9 officer and Firefighter Armstrong prepared to enter the structure. As the officer calls for water the front door is forced. The officer calls a second time for water and then, removing his facepiece, he goes to the engine to determine the problem. The driver replies that water is started and it can be seen that the lengths close to the engine are charged. A pile of hose is found among landscaping in front of the structure. As the officer and the driver begin to flake out this line Firefighter Armstrong, the other Engine 9 firefighter and the firefighter from Engine 2 advance their dry (on their end) lengths approximately 12 feet into the structure and radio for water.
The other firefighter from Engine 9 goes back to the front door and sees his officer chasing kinks and the line filling with water. As he returns to the nozzle, the first floor is involved in a flashover. He and the firefighter from Engine 2 are able to make it to the front door. The officer, mistaking the firefighter from Engine 2 as one of his own, believes all his members are safely out. Firefighter Armstrong is separated from his handline and removed from the structure 10 minutes after initial entry.
At the point the fire is extinguished, it took a 150-foot 2-inch handline from a second alarm engine, stretched through the rear Side Charlie yard to knock down the fire on the first floor. A 200-foot 2 1/2-inch handline was stretched to knock down fire on the second floor.
It doesn't stop at simply running the correct length line. We need to be aware and look for kinks and pinch points. Members need to look at the line as they make their way towards the fire building. Is it kinked up and in a pile? Is it snug under a car tire? Did it catch onto a bike or some landscaping and become buggered up? A swift kick with a foot or a toss with the hand may remedy the situation, but we have to look for it as we advance.
The size-up and hoseline acronyms, BELOW and ADULTS, can help crews determine their method of attack and to choose the right hoselines. Photo courtesy FITHP.net
The correct size line is another part that plays into a successful fireground. The age old slogan "big fire equals big water" might be missing the mark with some firefighters. What is "big?" If your working fire experience (different than fireground experience) is limited, "big" to you might be venting out two windows in a private dwelling. "Big" to some of you might be a whole apartment unit off, or a whole store in a strip mall. Instead of relying on a relic of past firefighting, utilize the following acronyms to have a better size-up for the initial stretch as well as when to use the 2-inch or 2 1/2-inch handline.
For Size-up: BELOW
B = Building
E = Extent of fire
L = Life hazard
O = Occupancy
W = Water
For 2-inch and 2 1/2-inch Handlines: ADULTS
A = Advanced fire
D = Defensive operations
U = Undetermined location
L = Large building
T = Tons of water
S = Standpipe
We Go To Fewer Fires
What this means is that with less current and repetitive experience fighting fire, we:
Become excited easily
Lose track of our assignment(s)
Become captivated by the flames
By training on handline stretches and incorporating as much live burn or simulated burn conditions, we can make good habits and eliminate the problems.
Engine company crews should practice donning gear and stretching hoselines so valuable minutes are saved at a fire. Photo courtesy FITHP.net
Repetition Builds Confidence And Proficiency
When we drill on searches, forcible entry, with extrication tools and other specialized tools, we become familiar with them and proficient with their use. If we go to fewer fires, or have relatively low working fire experience, why not drill on running the line? Take a look at your active members, then figure how much time each one has had on a working fire in approximately six months. Then, of those members, figure how many had the nozzleman's position. Do you see a need?
Below are a few things you should ask yourself each time you come in to work or ride to help make the initial stretch go smooth. If you don't think so, consider how you, as part of a four-person engine company, affect the initial stretch if you had to take care of these while on the fireground. Remember, the clock is ticking.
Chocks, Hinge Hangers: Are they on your helmet for looks? Are they the right size? Do you carry more than one?
Facepiece: Is it adjusted so that all you need to do is pull one strap to tighten it? Can you do it while wearing gloves?
Gloves: Can you put everything on while wearing your gloves? Can you make the riser connections with your gloves on?
Radio: Are you already switched over to the fireground channel?
A Competent Engine Company
Such a company knows their area, including: addresses requiring extended lines; building construction; fire spread; collapse risk and signs; how to sweep and sound with the line; how to identify signs of rollover; and how to overcome loss of water, burst lengths and problems with the nozzle. A competent engine company expects fire; always lays out; reads the building and the fire; runs the right size and length line; chases kinks, chocks doors, works together, and is aggressive but not stupid. What kind of engine company do you have?
A Note About Obvious Rescues
With departments facing staffing problems there is a fine line between what actions must be immediately done upon arrival, especially when confronted with obvious rescues. This is simply my opinion, my advice. You will have to follow your own standard operating procedures (SOPs) and determine for yourself what you would, or should, do.
The quickest and most efficient way to rescue trapped occupants is to remove the danger. A correctly positioned line, placed between the occupants and the fire, protecting the interior means of egress and extinguishing the fire, removes the danger. Occupants who have already jumped from the fire building are no longer obvious rescues. You can not do anything for them that a BLS unit cannot do, plus you cannot transport them to the hospital. Unless you are at or below minimum staffing (three), obvious rescues do not require the entire engine company. The nozzleman and backup must stretch the initial line and stretch it correctly.
References
"Preliminary Fire Investigation Report, 1131 Laidlaw Avenue" by the...
"Line of Duty Death, Enhanced Report, Oscar Armstrong III, March 21...
You can follow this blog, and others, at FireEMSBlogs.com
Errors in the initial stretch have resulted in firefighter injuries and fatalities
We go to fewer fires
Repetition builds confidence and proficiency
A proper size-up by the engine company should dictate that the correct diameter and length of hose is stretched to the fire building. Photo Courtesy FITHP.net
Errors Can Be Deadly
On March 21, 2003 Cincinnati Firefighter Oscar Armstrong died while participating in the advance of the initial handline at a single-family dwelling fire (Type III, 30-by-20 feet). Engine 9 arrived and front sleeved a hydrant across the street from the fire building. The engine officer and three firefighters stretched a 350-foot 1 3/4-inch handline to the front door while the driver made his connections. Finding the front door locked they proceeded to stretch the line to the rear but were stopped and redirected to the front by District Chief 4.
One firefighter left the line to retrieve an axe. Assisted by a firefighter from Engine 2, the Engine 9 officer and Firefighter Armstrong prepared to enter the structure. As the officer calls for water the front door is forced. The officer calls a second time for water and then, removing his facepiece, he goes to the engine to determine the problem. The driver replies that water is started and it can be seen that the lengths close to the engine are charged. A pile of hose is found among landscaping in front of the structure. As the officer and the driver begin to flake out this line Firefighter Armstrong, the other Engine 9 firefighter and the firefighter from Engine 2 advance their dry (on their end) lengths approximately 12 feet into the structure and radio for water.
The other firefighter from Engine 9 goes back to the front door and sees his officer chasing kinks and the line filling with water. As he returns to the nozzle, the first floor is involved in a flashover. He and the firefighter from Engine 2 are able to make it to the front door. The officer, mistaking the firefighter from Engine 2 as one of his own, believes all his members are safely out. Firefighter Armstrong is separated from his handline and removed from the structure 10 minutes after initial entry.
At the point the fire is extinguished, it took a 150-foot 2-inch handline from a second alarm engine, stretched through the rear Side Charlie yard to knock down the fire on the first floor. A 200-foot 2 1/2-inch handline was stretched to knock down fire on the second floor.
It doesn't stop at simply running the correct length line. We need to be aware and look for kinks and pinch points. Members need to look at the line as they make their way towards the fire building. Is it kinked up and in a pile? Is it snug under a car tire? Did it catch onto a bike or some landscaping and become buggered up? A swift kick with a foot or a toss with the hand may remedy the situation, but we have to look for it as we advance.
The size-up and hoseline acronyms, BELOW and ADULTS, can help crews determine their method of attack and to choose the right hoselines. Photo courtesy FITHP.net
The correct size line is another part that plays into a successful fireground. The age old slogan "big fire equals big water" might be missing the mark with some firefighters. What is "big?" If your working fire experience (different than fireground experience) is limited, "big" to you might be venting out two windows in a private dwelling. "Big" to some of you might be a whole apartment unit off, or a whole store in a strip mall. Instead of relying on a relic of past firefighting, utilize the following acronyms to have a better size-up for the initial stretch as well as when to use the 2-inch or 2 1/2-inch handline.
For Size-up: BELOW
B = Building
E = Extent of fire
L = Life hazard
O = Occupancy
W = Water
For 2-inch and 2 1/2-inch Handlines: ADULTS
A = Advanced fire
D = Defensive operations
U = Undetermined location
L = Large building
T = Tons of water
S = Standpipe
We Go To Fewer Fires
What this means is that with less current and repetitive experience fighting fire, we:
Become excited easily
Lose track of our assignment(s)
Become captivated by the flames
By training on handline stretches and incorporating as much live burn or simulated burn conditions, we can make good habits and eliminate the problems.
Engine company crews should practice donning gear and stretching hoselines so valuable minutes are saved at a fire. Photo courtesy FITHP.net
Repetition Builds Confidence And Proficiency
When we drill on searches, forcible entry, with extrication tools and other specialized tools, we become familiar with them and proficient with their use. If we go to fewer fires, or have relatively low working fire experience, why not drill on running the line? Take a look at your active members, then figure how much time each one has had on a working fire in approximately six months. Then, of those members, figure how many had the nozzleman's position. Do you see a need?
Below are a few things you should ask yourself each time you come in to work or ride to help make the initial stretch go smooth. If you don't think so, consider how you, as part of a four-person engine company, affect the initial stretch if you had to take care of these while on the fireground. Remember, the clock is ticking.
Chocks, Hinge Hangers: Are they on your helmet for looks? Are they the right size? Do you carry more than one?
Facepiece: Is it adjusted so that all you need to do is pull one strap to tighten it? Can you do it while wearing gloves?
Gloves: Can you put everything on while wearing your gloves? Can you make the riser connections with your gloves on?
Radio: Are you already switched over to the fireground channel?
A Competent Engine Company
Such a company knows their area, including: addresses requiring extended lines; building construction; fire spread; collapse risk and signs; how to sweep and sound with the line; how to identify signs of rollover; and how to overcome loss of water, burst lengths and problems with the nozzle. A competent engine company expects fire; always lays out; reads the building and the fire; runs the right size and length line; chases kinks, chocks doors, works together, and is aggressive but not stupid. What kind of engine company do you have?
A Note About Obvious Rescues
With departments facing staffing problems there is a fine line between what actions must be immediately done upon arrival, especially when confronted with obvious rescues. This is simply my opinion, my advice. You will have to follow your own standard operating procedures (SOPs) and determine for yourself what you would, or should, do.
The quickest and most efficient way to rescue trapped occupants is to remove the danger. A correctly positioned line, placed between the occupants and the fire, protecting the interior means of egress and extinguishing the fire, removes the danger. Occupants who have already jumped from the fire building are no longer obvious rescues. You can not do anything for them that a BLS unit cannot do, plus you cannot transport them to the hospital. Unless you are at or below minimum staffing (three), obvious rescues do not require the entire engine company. The nozzleman and backup must stretch the initial line and stretch it correctly.
References
"Preliminary Fire Investigation Report, 1131 Laidlaw Avenue" by the...
"Line of Duty Death, Enhanced Report, Oscar Armstrong III, March 21...
You can follow this blog, and others, at FireEMSBlogs.com
Add a Comment
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Comment by Bill Carey on November 12, 2009 at 8:29pm
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Thank you. We need to remember that the basic function of the engine company is to extinguish the fire, or at the very least, contain it. So in my opinion I believe that unless fire conditions exclude us from doing an interior attack, that we will always "go". The problem about search and the engine company that many make is trying to have a tactic that accomplishes everything at once. It's true that given good or better staffing, a competent engine company can easily multi-task after the line is at the seat of the fire. If staffed even with three personnel, once the line is at the fire, or door to the fire room, one member can begin a search, of course unless conditions prevent entry to the structure. Too many believe, especially if people are believed or suspected to be inside, that the full effort should be given to search. While well intentioned the action is careless and places members at greater risk, especially of being cut off by fire. Last year or so, in Maryland, companies made news rescuing triplets from a house fire. Some members from the engine and rescue squad were burned. The staffing on the engine was three; upon arrival the officer and lineman both abandoned the engine to begin a search (even though the RS was behind them). They did not run a line and even though they did a great job getting the three kids out members were burned. Had the lineman and officer stretched in, the lineman could have held the 1st floor fire at the interior stairs while the officer, and RS, went up to search. See where we end with this? The teaching that the line is placed between the victims and means of egress. We don't do this (not stretch) on high-rise fires do we? For those of us who have them, we simply don't hook to the riser and then drop the line in the hall and go about forcing doors. No, instead we stretch the line. While John Smith and Jane Doe might be unconscious in the back bedroom, they are not going anywhere - but the fire is, and has been well before we arrived. So, probable occupants or not, the line still has to go, and needs members to stretch it.
Entry without water. In my experience, getting water has not been a problem. My area is blessed with hydrants almost on every corner and a alarm assignment that has multiple engine companies responding from close proximity. My hometown is suburban and rural, so I also understand having to rely on volunteer and home response, and in some parts tanker, draft and dump site operations. I've always believed and taught that how you determine whether or not to stretch dry or wet is based on your sizeup of the building and fire conditions and location. In some departments, the decision is specified in their SOPs.
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Comment by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on November 12, 2009 at 1:53pm
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Bill:
Excellent as usual.
I liked your comments under "obvious rescues".
But, I have to ask about the "not so obvious".
In your opinion, what is "go/no go" if you're basing your decision to enter for search on "someone might be in there"; day, date and time would indicate that the structure is occupied; or no one who knows the occupants have seen them outside the structure, but one vehicle in a two car garage is gone.
But, no entry would be made without water.
True?
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Comment by truckeewads on November 10, 2009 at 12:46am
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Bill,
Great points you make here. It seems that many of the topics on this site makes the point that getting back to basics is more important than ever. If you can't take the extra time and awareness to pull the right line and do it properly, so it is useable, your whole operation is already off to a bad start. It really just takes a few more seconds to ensure a successful deployment of your initial hoseline...unfortunately it also takes alot of discipline. Drills and then more drills....hopefully a fire in there somewhere.
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