Gary P. Morris
Deputy Chief
Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department
Response: The Phoenix Fire Department equips all of its engine companies with four attack handline options–112-inch, 134-inch, two-inch, and 212-inch. We added the 134- and two-inch hose nearly two decades ago. Attack lines are typically 150 feet in length, although some companies have 200-foot loads based on the tactical needs of their first-due areas.
The 112- and 134-inch attack lines are most commonly used for our typical detached dwelling fires. The company officer has the option of choice based on conditions on arrival. The larger the volume of fire, the larger the attack line. The 134-inch hoseline is typically the line of choice for working interior fires in commercial buildings. Both hoselines have performed well.
The 134-inch line has also been the primary hose for our high-rise packs. The department, however, is reevaluating its use in high-rise fires based on lessons learned by other fire departments, such as the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), which has a great deal more experience in fighting major high-rise fires.
A high-rise committee has been experimenting with 212-inch hose and a new nozzle that allows either a peripheral tip or smooth-bore to be attached forward of the shutoff. The nozzle produces an effective stream of from 50- to 100-psi nozzle pressure and delivers a flow of 250 gpm at 50 psi and 350 gpm at 100 psi (see last month`s Roundtable). This combination may allow more effective fire streams and safer operations for crews operating in high-rise fires.
The two-inch attack line remains an option for company officers. It has been used for high-rise firefighting and other situations where high volumes of water are required by handline application. Its plus is that it`s more mobile than a 212-inch line with similar flows, but it`s not as mobile as the 134-inch handline.
