The Boise (ID) Fire Department recently put all its companies through a series of hose and nozzle operations classes, centered on the invaluable work of the late Lieutenant Andrew Fredericks and his back-to-basics approach to hose and nozzle systems. The classes focused on proper nozzle selection, hose advancement, and application of water for interior fire attack. We also used our truck companies for interior search in conjunction with the drills designed for the engine crews. During these classes, we learned a great deal about how our companies are operating and identified some habits our companies have across the board.
We noticed during drills and live-fire training that our “making entry” procedure was lacking. Part of our deficiency in this basic but critical skill originates with improper training from the time our firefighters are hired. The basic entry procedure taught to new recruits sends the wrong message, and that information is carried through a firefighter’s career, unless we actively pursue breaking the bad habits.
For example, teaching recruits the 30 fog method at the door will not only result in a bad habit but will also cause a great deal of interior fire attacks to start badly later in their careers. It’s almost guaranteed that the nozzle pattern firefighters set outside the door will be the pattern used for attack once entry is made. Instead, teach your firefighters to set the pattern to straight stream. If protection is needed because of heavy involvement, back up! Teaching recruits to open the door when using a fog stream for protection sends the wrong message. If the door is hot, back up! Don’t teach your newest members to operate in the vent created when the door is opened. Use the truck company or another crew member to force or open the door from the side while the nozzleman is ready to operate in the doorway with a straight or solid stream. No one should be working in the vent. The first coupling is placed at the point of entry, ensuring a minimum of a 50-foot working line (photo 1).
 1) Photo by Tracy Raynor. |
Once the door is forced and conditions permit entry, we must chock the door. We found that engine and truck company members alike neglected to perform this simple step that may save our own. Many of our members carry door chocks (wedges) of some type, but rarely did they use them. Most of the chocks our members carried, although fitting nicely on a helmet, were too small to properly secure a door.
 (2) Photo by author. |
Door chocks should be large enough to be placed in the jamb, not in the space under the door where they can be inadvertently kicked free or dislodged by a hoseline. Door chocks should be made of a material wide enough (2 4 lumber works well) so that they will not easily twist or fall out when in place. Set the chock in as deep as possible; a tap with a hand tool will secure the door (photo 2).
Additionally, chocks made of hard woods have less flex and compression, thereby creating a more positive stop. Chocks made of rubber and soft woods do not work well in the doorjambs because they allow the door to flex back to a partially closed position. A door that has movement will likely work the wedge out of the jamb. When chocking a door, open it as far as possible with little or no movement.
 (3) Photo by Tracy Raynor. |
Furthermore, because there was no consistency regarding where the chock should be placed in the door to keep it open, we began training all members to chock in the same position, above the first hinge from the floor (photo 3). This allows members to find the door chock easily as they exit the room. If fire conditions deteriorate, it may be necessary to close the door to confine the fire and allow crews to exit. A door chock placed higher than the lowest hinge may be difficult to find, and heat conditions may not allow the member to reach high enough to find the chock.
 (4) Photo by author. |
There still may be instances when we cannot use door chocks in the jamb because of the door’s construction. In this case, our second choice is to place the chock under the bottom of the door. If this is necessary, consider chocking the door from both sides. Placing wedges in opposing positions and driving them together creates a very secure door. This technique also works well for doors that have a large space between the floor and the bottom of the door (photo 4). We must protect the primary means of egress every time.
Finally, during live house burns, we found that our engine and truck crews when making entry often based the need to stay low on heat conditions instead of visibility. This habit seems to have become more common with the increased use of thermal imaging cameras (TICs). Many firefighters are walking through smoke-filled environments, believing that the TIC provides adequate visibility of all dangers. Worse yet, once accustomed to this habit, they continue to do so even when not using the TIC. Neither practice is acceptable. Entry personnel must stay low, advance aggressively, and always check the floor for stability.
If a department is not teaching these basic skills in its recruit classes, poor habits will be ingrained early. In our department, we are backtracking to correct problems and bad habits we have created ourselves. Aggressive real-life training scenarios allowed us to discover these operational issues and to begin rehabilitating our training program.
Properly teaching our crews to begin the attack with good techniques at the “point of entry” sets the stage for a safe operation. Working to the side of the vent, preselecting straight or solid streams for interior fire attack, chocking doors, and staying low are among the greatest skills we can teach our members. ■
RICK PAYNE is a training officer with the Boise (ID) Fire Department, overseeing the driver/operator program and company operations training. He is an instructor at the Boise Firefighter Safety Symposium.
