ON FIRE | by MICHAEL N. CIAMPO
“The backstep,” a term often heard in the fire service, used to signify who was riding on the backstep of the engine and who had what duties. When riding wasn’t allowed there any longer, the firefighters moved inside the cab and the duties still had to be delegated. Not every firefighter can be assigned the glamorous position of the nozzle; there has to be a lot of grunt work done to get the hoseline in position. Without a well-trained and experienced crew, stretching and operating a hoseline can be a disaster when faced with difficult circumstances.
The First 50 Feet
The first 50 feet of hose is designated as the lead length, and it’s very important that the nozzle firefighter keep it with him until he reaches his destination. If we’re responding to a private-dwelling fire, the length is usually laid out in the front yard in a “U” pattern so that it can be easily pulled inside the structure once it’s charged. Prior to entering the structure, the nozzle firefighter should perform a long bleed of the line of air, ensuring there’s sufficient pressure and a good stream flowing. A really important fact here is that the line should never be dropped prior to the point of attack or entry. If it is, the line is usually stretched like a clothesline, and the nozzle is the only thing at the entrance. Now, once the line is full of water, it makes it that much more difficult to pull into the structure and slows down the advance of the fire attack.
Look for obstructions and pinch points. Stretching around a tree, a mailbox post, or a street light pole will slow down hoseline advancement.
Another advantage of having the first 50 feet near the entrance is that it gives you 50 feet of hose to pull inside the dwelling or an apartment. Normally, we can get to most rooms in standard-sized dwellings and apartments with this much hose.
When the hose is “flaked” out on the ground, ensure that it is laid out as neatly as possible. This helps reduce the chances of it kinking or snagging on something when charged.
The Nozzle Firefighter
This is perhaps the one firefighter who must be the most determined firefighter on the fireground because he’ll face challenging and dangerous situations. Without his expertise in operating the nozzle with precision and effectiveness, we’ll end up making a lot more parking lots. The nozzle firefighter should resist being inline with the doorway of the fire area; a sudden collapse of the ceiling, a wind-driven fire, or a self-venting fire could cause fire to blowtorch toward the opening. Remaining to the side with the nozzle will allow him to operate the line and be out of the way of these hazardous conditions.
The nozzle firefighter can make many decisions on his own, such as the direction of the hose stream, how quickly to advance, when to sweep the floor to wash away hot embers and fire debris, calling for more hoseline for the advance, closing the nozzle partially to regain control of the line, opening the nozzle in an emergency, and when to inform the officer he needs relief. Although he can make these decisions, the officer is the one who will call for water and decide when to open and close the nozzle.
Remember, when advancing in heavy smoke with a high heat condition, keep the nozzle open to reduce the chances of flashover and cool the area while advancing toward the fire. The nozzle firefighter can choose between “flow and move,” a tactic that involves opening the nozzle and moving toward the seat of the fire to extinguish it. This tactic uses the reach of the stream to allow surface and gas cooling to be maximized to achieve an effective knockdown of the fire while also eliminating the chances of temperature rebound because it’s continuously cooling surfaces.
“Stop and flow” is another tactic that involves opening the nozzle and operating while in a stationary position. Once conditions are favorable, the nozzle can be fully shut down or partially shut down, and the line can be advanced to the next point of operation. Then the nozzle is fully opened and fire attack will continue. This technique can be used when encountering hoarding conditions, through a path that has obstructions, or when operating a 2½-inch hoseline. Do not use the technique when you encounter heavy fire conditions and high heat.
The Backup Firefighter
Often referred to as the cheerleaders who are there for moral and physical support of the nozzle, backup firefighters are often the ones doing much of the grunt work and getting minimal accolades when the fire is extinguished. When the line is charged, they should ensure there aren’t any kinks in it and then position themselves on the same side of the hose and behind the nozzle. They should maintain enough pressure to absorb the backward thrust of the nozzle reaction but not push so hard that they throw the nozzle firefighter off balance or push him over while advancing.
During the initial advance of the nozzle, keep the hose below the level of the operating nozzle and keep it as straight as possible so no kinks occur between the two firefighters. During the advance, the hose can get snagged on furniture, door frames, or other obstructions and the backup firefighter will have to leave his position to retrieve more line or free the obstruction. The nozzle firefighter and officer must be informed prior to leaving the position to retrieve more hose. Whenever the backup firefighter is in position, he must maintain a firm grip on the hoseline; if the nozzle firefighter loses his grip on the line, he’d be able to regain control because the backup firefighter is still holding and supporting the hose.
Two firefighters—the backstep for many of you.
MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 37-year veteran of the fire service and a lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously, he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He is the lead instructor for the FDIC International Truck Essentials H.O.T. program. He wrote the Ladders and Ventilation chapters for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and II (Fire Engineering, 2009) and the Bread and Butter Portable Ladders DVD and is featured in “Training Minutes” truck company videos.
