By P.J. NORWOOD
At its core, the issue of getting water on the fire has not changed. The number one mission of fire attack is still getting water on the fire. What has changed, however, is that research has enabled us to evolve our tactics to meet the challenges of the fireground. This article examines tasks that support getting water on the fire quickly and efficiently.
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“Water on the fire” has been the most basic fireground task going back to the earliest days of the fire service. Today, there are commercially manufactured products that enhance water delivery and effectiveness. We have also made significant improvements in our water delivery systems. The fire service continues to evolve and embrace these advancements that have proved beneficial for the citizens we are sworn to protect.
One of those recent advancements is a technique or a skill set to help us get water on the fire more quickly. There are many techniques and tricks of the trade to make stretching and deploying hose more efficient. It’s up to you and your company to determine which hose loads and which techniques are best suited for your department and response area.
The fire attack mode has always been categorized as offensive or defensive. We either make an aggressive forward movement or we set up master stream operations and stay out of the collapse zone and on the outside because of potential building instability. The word “offense” is defined as “to attack.” In this definition, it doesn’t define how to attack. Let’s look at the goal of fire attack as it pertains to an offensive attack and how we can get it done.
As we know, the goal of fire attack is and has always been to get water on the fire in the quickest manner possible. Fire attack has been taught and carried out across the country in the same manner every day successfully for many years. We would attack from the unburned side. We were taught to fight from the unburned to the burned side at all costs. We would even carry out this standard fire attack by taking the attack line to the Charlie side of a structure and entering there. We were taught to do this even if going to the rear would take longer. The primary reason for this, we were taught, was that our handlines would push fire to all uninvolved areas.
The “pushing fire” myth has been dispelled. We clearly understand that a properly placed and used hoseline does not push fire. This new understanding has allowed us to flow water on fire more quickly and has shown that we don’t need to fight the fire from the unburned side.
Exterior Water
The fire service has been conflicted about expanding this attack from the burned side. Many feel we must flow water only from within the structure. The data available show that that belief is incorrect: Fires across the country have shown us that we can and should flow water from the exterior before we enter. Flowing water from the exterior into the fire compartment has many positive impacts on the fire. However, we must follow up exterior water application with a rapid entrance to finish extinguishment. This approach/tactic has many names. It is referred to as “fast water on tank water” in this article.
The fire reacts to the building construction and its environment. The fire does not know if the water is being flowed from a nozzle, through a window, through the front door, within the hallway, or within the same room. The fire environment will see immediate improvements from water application including a decrease in temperatures, reduction of energy, and contraction of gases, to name a few. The question of concern is always, what about the victims? Water application and the steam production are still of greater benefit to any victims than allowing a fire to continue to burn unchecked.
(1) Making the push to the interior often begins with flowing water on the exterior and then moving or transitioning to the interior. (Photo by Christine Ricci.)
The area of concern for all firefighters with exterior water application is steam conversion. We were taught steam expands 1,700:1 at 212°F and 4,800:1 at 1,000°F. The one item rarely discussed or considered is, what occurs when the steam expands while the temperature is rapidly decreased? Do the steam expansion and temperature reduction lift and create a survivable space? There has been a lot of research on this topic as it pertains to gas cooling, which we cannot achieve with our streams in the United States.
Choosing the right tactic is crucial. There is no silver bullet for interior or exterior water. The situation dictates actions, and you must quickly consider the many variables of the building and conditions. Water needs to be applied in the quickest manner possible.
The Blitz Attack
In 1976, Captain William Olson of the Chicago (IL) Fire Department began experimenting with a preconnected deck gun mounted on top of Engine Company 39, which was very successful in using its deck gun to control large amounts of fire. This tactic was commonly used only for defensive fire attack. However, Olson was having success in occupied buildings, especially with rear wood deck fires. Instead of a prolonged blast of water into the heart of the fire, Olson would direct the stream off the ceiling of the fire area for 30 seconds or just long enough to darken down the heavy body of fire. Olson was transferred to Engine Company 116, where he continued to refine this hard-hitting attack that was named the “blitz” attack.
(2) An interior fire attack traditionally has been the only attack method. Although it is still a good choice for many fires, it’s not the only option you should consider. (Photo by author.)
In 1979, Olson was promoted to battalion chief on the south side of Chicago, where he began working with Captain John McNamara of Engine Company 61. Together, they used the technique with great results. This blitz attack was developed into a standard operating procedure that became known as “quick water.” Quick water developed in Chicago is no different from today’s quick water on tank water. Regardless, whether that water is flowed through a deck gun or a handline, the concept is similar and has the same positive results.
This blitz attack, quick water, fast water from tank water, or whatever you would like to call it has been used successfully for many years. Today’s firefighters are armed with experience, knowledge, and lots of data to help determine the appropriate fireground tactic. Some of the confusion about exterior water application is caused by the belief that flowing water from the exterior will slow down or delay extinguishment. A well-trained crew of three (or even two) can easily stretch two lines, apply water from the exterior, and then rapidly move interior to finish extinguishment. The notion that applying water from the exterior will delay extinguishment is a poor excuse.
Deploying Dual Handlines
On arrival, the engine company members exit the vehicle. One firefighter quickly begins stretching a 1¾-inch attack line to the area where water can be flowed through an exterior opening. This line should be charged and have water flowing from the exterior as quickly as possible. The nozzle firefighter flows water into the opening just long enough to darken down the fire and reduce the energy being created. Once there is a change in conditions, this firefighter abandons this line and meets up with the other members of the company.
You do not have to have an absolute time frame to flow water into the opening. Continuously evaluate the conditions and flow only enough water until the energy is taken away, and closely watch and read the smoke to see the changes.
After you start flowing, take a tactical pause and evaluate the smoke and determine if more water is needed or if you should then move interior. The goal is not to stand outside and flow thousands of gallons of water into an opening. It is to get water into the environment as quickly as possible to reset the flashover clock. Resetting this clock makes for a safer environment for any possible victims and the interior advancing firefighters and decreases the property damage.
Simultaneously, another firefighter stretches an attack line to the point of entry and, on arrival, calls for water and prepares for entry. Firefighters should don all personal protective equipment, complete any forcible entry needed, and control the door. The hoseline is put in operation after completing a stream check. Flow the water on the top portion of the door. When both or all three firefighters are prepared to make entry, the nozzle firefighter begins advancing. The #2 firefighter on the hose is the control firefighter, and the #3 firefighter is the door control firefighter.
(3) A blitz attack is a great tactic when you are faced with a large volume of fire or fire showing on upper floors. Firefighters should be trained in this method to ensure that they place a handline in service on the interior quickly, as with a transitional attack. (Photo by author.)
Deploying two attack lines simultaneously is a great option. When the goal is to get water on the fire in the quickest manner, this attack line deployment ensures that that goal will be met. A concern of some in the fire service is that applying water through an exterior opening will create too much steam and humidity within the structure and negatively impact any potential victims. The fire itself creates extremely high humidity without any water being applied. Leaving a fire unchecked while you make an interior stretch is more detrimental than applying water from the exterior. The fire does not know if you are flowing water through an exterior opening or from down a hallway. The impact will be the same. It comes down to the operational time clock and getting water on the fire as quickly as possible.
We have sworn to protect life and property. Many, if not all, departments also have a mission statement that indicates they will protect life and property even at great risk. Choosing not to flow water into an opening goes directly against that mission statement. Allowing the fire to continue to grow unchecked exposes potential trapped victims to deadly heat and humidity. Allowing the fire to grow for a longer time than is necessary is not protecting property either.
When assigned fire attack on the fireground, you have one question to ask and answer to determine your tactic: Is this going to be offensive or defensive? If you choose an offensive attack, you must get water on the fire in the quickest manner possible. That may be going through the front door, or it may be rapidly stretching to the Alpha, Charlie, or even Bravo side while a crew member stretches another line and begins to put it in place while you flow water through an exterior opening.
The time has come to modify our traditional fire attack tactics to meet the needs of the fire environment. This is not a new tactic; it is a forgotten tactic that can be more effective today than it was in Chicago when it was developed by Olson. This tactic is a quick action of opportunity that will have great benefits for the entire incident.
P.J. NORWOOD is a deputy chief training officer for the East Haven (CT) Fire Department and has served four years with the Connecticut Army National Guard. He is an FDIC International classroom, workshop, and HOT instructor; a Fire Engineering Advisory Board member; and an author of Fire Engineering Books and Videos, including “The Evolving Fireground–Researched Based Tactics” and the “Tactical Perspectives” DVD series. Norwood also serves on the UL-FSRI Technical Panel for the Study of Residential Attic Fire Mitigation Tactics and Exterior Fire Spread Hazards on Fire Fighter Safety. He is a Public Safety Education Group advisory member for UL-FSRI. He has lectured across the United States and overseas. He is certified to the instructor II, officer III, fire marshal, and paramedic levels.
