Objectives

• Identify and secure an adequate

water supply.
• Perform a 360 degree Size Up.
• Develop an appropriate IAP.
• Make the appropriate hose line
selection, hose stretch and water
application based on the IAP.
• Define Operational Modes.
It is impossible for this lesson to
address every possible
fireground situation.
DISCLAIMER
TSS is simply providing current
information so you can make
sound tactical decisions.
 The effective advancement of a
hose line is critical for successful
fireground operations.

This includes proper decision

making and effective motor skills.
It starts before the
bell goes off.
An effective hose stretch starts
with your morning check off:
• Adequate hose
• Properly loaded
• Correct nozzle pre-connected
• Fog nozzles on straight stream
“Right to Fight”
• Commonly used fittings within reach
The bell has gone off.

Considerations while
enroute.
Occupancy type?

Target Hazard?
Hydrant Map
 Use the hydrant short
of the incident….

or beyond the incident?

 Type of hydrant?

Fittings needed?
The “pre-stretch” routine continues while enroute to a fire.

Water supply:
• Lay in
• Wrap and go
• Mule
 You’ve arrived on
scene.

You need information

before selecting the
hose line to deploy.
 Radio Size Up

1. Location (address/intersection)

123

2. Products of combustion

3. Numerical floor height & occupancy type

4. Special instructions (exposures, location of

fire related to structure, operational mode)
 Operational Modes
• Investigation Mode
• Offensive Mode
–Transitional Fire Attack
–Interior Fire Attack
• Defensive Mode
 Active or potential
Known or potential flow paths?
rescue problem?

Structural stability?
Location and
extent of the fire?

Other hazards (electrical, Size, age and construction

exposures, access)? type of building?
If available,
utilize a TIC
during your
size up.
Portions of your
360 Size Up may
have to be
delegated due to
access issues.
Other factors to
consider during
size up.
 Time of day?

Weather (WIND)?

Savable lives and/or property? Resources on

scene or en route?

Water supply?
 Time to process this
information and make
your hose selection.
Hose Selection Considerations
Required gpm (hose size)?
• Existing fire conditions
• Potential fire conditions
• Commercial vs. Residential?
Hose Selection Considerations
Where is the fire (hose length)?
• Where is the fire now?
• Where is the fire going?
• Obstacles, above ground?
Hose Selection Considerations

• Personnel available (pre-connect)?

• Operational Mode?
– Offensive Mode
• Transitional Fire Attack
• Interior Fire Attack
– Defensive Mode
• Incident Action Plan (IAP)?
Who makes the selection?
Who will make the hose selection
can be based on several factors.
• Firefighter experience level
• Crew Standard Operating
Guidelines (SOGs)
• Crew Cohesion
• Training tempo of crew
• IAP
Regardless of who makes the
line selection, it MUST match
the objective(s) of the IAP
established by the IC.
Hose Size

Fire Flow
Fire Flow Formulas
National Fire Academy Formula

Length x Width / 3 x % Involved = GPM

Example: 30’ x 50’ building with 25%

involvement

30 x 50 = 1500 divided by 3 = 500 x .25

= 125 GPM
 Iowa Formula
Length x Width x Height / 100

Example: 30’ x 50’ building, 10’ high

30 x 50 x 10 = 15000
divided by 100 = 150 GPM
Will the GPMs from your
hose overcome the Heat
Release Rate (HRR) of
the fire?
Simple Rule of Thumb…..
If the fire is growing with
proper water
application…..MORE GPM
IS NEEDED!!!
Hose Length
• Street to building
• Obstacles
• Elevation changes
• Multi-story
• Size of fire area
• Potential fire path
Personnel Available
 Pre-connect:
• Quickly deployed
• Minimal personnel
needed
• Maneuverable
• May lack gpm
needed

Large diameter:
• Increased gpm
• Length not
predetermined
• Additional
personnel may be
needed to deploy
The Hose Stretch
When deploying
pre-connects,
ensure hose bed
is cleared.
 Remove
unnecessary slack
around obstacles
to avoid kinks and
maximize usable
hose.
 Kinks in line

Kinks in your hose can have a

significant effect on the effectiveness
of your stream/flow rate.
Sacramento (CA) Metropolitan Fire Department’s Command Training Center
Hands-On Training Team 2008 testing
 Door Swing

Ric-Rac

“Ric-Rac” hose for

easy deployment
(minimum 50’ at
the door).
C r e w
1. Shut nozzle
2. Call for water
3. Bleed air from line
4. Check nozzle
pattern (straight
stream/ “right to
fight”)
 Consider additional
personnel at pinch points.
 You’ve selected your
line based on the IAP.

Now where does it go

and how is it used?
 Operational Mode Decision Tree
Operational
Mode

Offensive Defensive
Mode Mode

Transitional Interior Fire

Fire Attack Attack
Offensive Mode
Transitional Fire Attack
 Firefighting operation where
water is applied from an
exterior position to the interior
of a structure to reduce the
thermal threat and cool the
environment just prior to
initiating interior operations.
Transitional Fire Attack
is an Offensive Mode.

You are slowing the fire’s

growth and reducing
temperatures to allow for
interior fire attack.
 Exterior Water Application

• Straight Stream (right to fight)

• Close to window sill
– Allows gasses and smoke to escape from
top of window
• Steep angle to ceiling
• Avoid moving the nozzle
– Moving nozzle or fog pattern will entrain
air and not allow gasses/smoke to escape
 You’ve addressed
the thermal threat
with exterior
water application.

When
conditions
warrant, initiate
Interior Fire
Attack.
Interior Fire Attack
With door control in place, apply
water to the upper 1/3 of the door.
If the water converts to steam, you will
have high temperatures inside the door.
 What What is the
temperatures smoke volume,
am I seeing velocity, density
with the TIC? & color?

How is my water
Perform a heat reacting with the
check with upper atmosphere
short bursts of (turning to steam
water. or falling to the
floor?
If water converts to steam and fails to return
as water, additional cooling is needed.
Apply longer bursts of
water in a figure 8
pattern.

Be aware that too much

water may affect the
thermal layers.
Your heat check returns water droplets. Time
to advance the hose line.
Remember Door Control!
 Pencil the smoke layer
above and ahead of you
with short bursts of water.

This can help cool the

atmosphere and continues
the heat check process.
 If at any time during
your advance, water
fails to return and
vaporizes, apply longer
bursts in a figure 8.
Too much water
may collapse the
neutral plane.
If conditions deteriorate or
your water application is not
effective, you have reached a
decision point.
• Additional hose lines
• Coordinated ventilation
• Retreat
Work your way to
the seat of the fire
for direct water
application in
coordination with
ventilation.
Defensive Mode
Operational mode initiated
when fire conditions
prevent an interior attack.
Attack lines and all
personnel operate outside
the collapse zone using
defensive tactics.
As stated previously, it is impossible
to create a lesson that covers every
possible scenario.

We encourage you to become a

student of the craft of firefighting.
Research fire behavior, reading
smoke, contemporary firefighting
techniques, etc. You and your
teammates will be better off for it.
Now get out there
and apply what
you’ve learned.

Time for
hands-on
training!
Director of Training LACoFD Training Services Section
Battalion Chief Derek Alkonis (323) 881-2436