Firefighter training drill by Forest Reeder
The art of initial attack operations is in many ways tied to the company’s ability to lead-out their chosen initial attack lines. Given limited crew numbers with limited fire experience, this skill base must be worked on constantly to keep your crew battle-ready.
- The Initial Line
- Firefighter Basics: Pulling the Proper Size Line
- A Guide to Selecting the Attack Line
Review your department SOG or training manual on advancing hoselines from their beds and demonstrate these skills in a realistic lead-out evolution. Make sure all of the hosebeds that your crews can advance are reviewed and in the best case, demonstrated.
Download this week’s firefighter training drill as a PDF HERE.
- Firefighter Training Drill: Hoseline Operations (Backup Firefighter)
- Firefighter Training Drill: Backup Hoselines
- Company-Level Hoseline Deployment Drills
- Firefighter Basics: Targeting and Hoseline Deployment
- Back-to-Basics Drilling for the Engine Company, Part 1 | Part 2
MAD Training and Response Solutions
Forest Reeder began his fire service career in 1978 and retired as fire chief of the Tinley Park (IL) Fire Department in 2021. He has worked extensively in the areas of instruction, firefighter safety, and officer development and earned his Master of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration in 2004. He is the author of Fire Department Incident Safety Officer 4th edition (2025) and co-author of Fire Service Instructor Principles and Practices, now in its 3rd edition. Forest presents nationally on fire service leadership, safety, and instructor development. He was inducted into the Moraine Valley Community College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2020 and awarded the Distinguished Alumnus award in 2021. In 2008, he received the ISFSI George D. Post Instructor of the Year, considered to be the highest recognition for fire service instructors in the nation.
