Using an Initial Offensive Exterior Attack
Dairing notebook
Nearly all fire suppression training stresses the importance of getting inside a burning building to effectively extinguish fires. The “get in and get it” concept has developed to such a point that we are often exposing ourselves to unnecessary dangers and sustaining painful steam burn injuries, all because of pride in being an aggressive firefighting unit. It’s time to take another look at the tactics we are employing and the tools and appliances that are available to us.
Too often we hear the radio transmission: “Fire is through the roof and out of control. We are backing out and going to a master stream operation.” I have to raise the following questions:
- Would the outcome have been different if a fast, heavy volume master stream operation had been utilized from outside to effect knockdown before personnel were sent inside?
- Would there have been steam burns?
- Would there have been loss of control of the roof?
- Would there have been building collapse?
- Was the building so involved in fire that men should not have entered at all?
- Worse yet, was the final outcome much different than it would have been had the fire department not even shown up?
By initially using an offensive exterior attack, we would be knocking a fire down to a more manageable size for handlines, as opposed to moving into an inferno and possibly being forced to retreat. Keep in mind that we are not talking about fire involving only one or two rooms and their contents. We’re talking about heavy involvement of a large area such as a supermarket floor or more than one floor of a multi-story building.
This tactic is used successfully, and very effectively, by a few departments, but is apparently slow to be adopted. We have gotten into the habit of starting all structural fire attacks with a “routine” size line and progressing up to larger flows as we find our choice, for one reason or another, is not effective, saving master streams for surround and drown operations. Remember, there are no standoffs in this game. Either the fire department is making progress or the fire is. We put the fire out or the building burns.
But you must consider these factors before undertaking this type of attack:
- Whether the building is occupied,
- The size of the fire,
- The likelihood of survival under the fire conditions present.
- Also, three major points that need to be covered, and covered quickly, are:
- Establishment of water supply,
- Placing the selected streams in service,
- Having handlines readied for advancement at the proper time.
Elevating platforms, deluge guns (operated from the mounted position on pumpers), master stream devices mounted on booms, and, to some extent, ladder pipes and 2 1/2-inch handlines are the equipment of choice for an initial offensive exterior attack.
Elevating platforms can be particularly effective as they can be set up and put into operation quickly. They also provide elevated streams that are high in gallonage yet mobile, as opposed to the relative lack of mobility of ladder pipes. Platforms with telescoping type booms can be used at ground level quite effectively. Firefighters can darken down fire from outside and, by extending the nozzle parallel to the ground, can move the big stream into the building providing good cover for handlines to move in behind it.
Deluge guns operated from the mounted position can be put in service quite fast, and a 30to 60-second application into several openings will knock down a large volume of fire.
Ladder pipes, particularly those premounted and pre-piped, can provide good knockdown power on upper floors before firefighters with handlines can get to the fire floor. However, elevating platforms should be able to be set up quicker and will be more effective if the option exists.
The 2 1/2-inch handline can be used on house fires with one level totally involved or, in some cases, on smaller commercial establishments (i.e., convenience stores) for knockdown from outside before moving in.
We are trying to overcome an excessively high Btu output and will need very good penetration to reach all of the base of the fire. Smooth bore nozzle tips or variable pattern nozzles set on straight stream should be utilized. Fog or spray will have more of a tendency to push fire than will a straight stream properly operated.
Remember, we cannot expect to be successful at an offensive master stream attack if we do not practice. Practice not only setting up large streams but also the coordination of having the handlines ready to move in when ordered. Don’t give the fire a chance to build back up after the heat flow has been momentarily halted or reversed. The one outstanding point in this type of attack is the speed with which it can be carried out.
Remember, just as the military softens a large enemy concentration with air support and artillery, we are softening the fire with the big stuff. You are not trying to put the fire out with this attack but attempting to knock it down to a more manageable size.
I want to emphasize that I am not in any way suggesting that interior firefighting be abandoned. On the contrary, I am simply suggesting that in some instances we should take a different look at our initial methods of attack and take care not to become entrenched in one strategy when perhaps variations can, in some cases, be more effective.
