Posts Categorized: Engine Work
The Next 100 Feet of the Attack Line
When discussing attack line tactics, one of the most important points to remember is for the Nozzle Firefighter to always show up at the door with, at least, 1 section of hose often referred to as the “working length”. What about the 100 feet or so behind the working length? Who manages that hose and how? There are certain objectives, or good practices, that all engine companies should try to accomplish that will aid in advancing the attack line into the structure.
Read More »
What Is Your Favorite Attack Line & Nozzle Setup and Why?
Please share with us your tool of choice. You know, the setup that, when the S#!T hits the fan, is your GO-TO line. You can also share your (constructive) opinions on someone else's favorites.
Read More »
Straight Stream vs. Fog: A Visual Aid
A byproduct of that debate is hose stream selection for fire attack. The question is, do you use a wide fog pattern, a narrow fog (a.k.a. power cone) or a straight (or solid) stream for offensive interior fire attack? Watch this video and form your own conclusions.
Read More »
The What, Where & Why of the First Line
Nothing does more to improve safety on the fireground than correctly stretching, positioning and using the first attack line (sorry Truckies). The question is, do we take our most effective life and property saving skill for granted? Do you know the WHAT, WHERE & WHY before and/or during the initial attack line stretch? This post asks these questions and offers some discussion to the most fundamental fireground tactic.
Read More »
How Do You Carry the Irons?
I was always taught that the irons (aka married set) were supposed to be carried by one person and that everyone else still needed to carry their own tool. However, I see (a lot of) people splitting up the set, carrying the set between two people OR only carrying one or the other. Does your FD have a standard for carrying the irons?
Read More »
Tips for Advancing the Attack Line
Nothing is more fundamental, or important, when extinguishing a fire than stretching an attack line and putting water on the fire. These are just a few tips to help keep the line moving and make your attack on the fire a little easier, quicker and safer.
Read More »
Food for Thought: Pump Pressures for Attack Lines
No matter how much training and/or experience you had as a firefighter, the pressure of being the Driver/Operator, the one responsible for the safety of an attack crew, causes some to question what they know is right.
Read More »
BTFD Standpipe Hose Pack Demo
A few months ago, a group of Bluffton firefighters was asked to re-evaluate the Bluffton Township Fire District’s “high-Rise Packs”. They were tasked with creating a standardized and cost-effective portable hose pack system that is user friendly,…
Read More »
Tradition, Motivation & Training
Why do you do this job? What makes you tick? For me, it’s the tradition, brotherhood and challenge of the job and the excitement of not knowing what the next shift will bring. These may seem like clichés, but they are all true and undeniable. …
Read More »
RIP Tillerman Bob
Last week my neighbor passed away after an ongoing battle with respiratory and cardiac illnesses. His name was bob. Bob retired from the new Rochelle (NY) fire department in the 80’s and moved, with his wife, to South Carolina to be with their kids…
Read More »
Understaffed Truck Work: Forcible Entry
Most fire departments, if they are even lucky enough to staff a truck company, often struggle with how to maximize the tasks that the truck can accomplish on the fireground. Since times are tough and budgets are tougher, increasing staffing is unlikely…
Read More »
Brotherhood 101
BROTHERHOOD 101 (CLICK HERE)
I found this Powerpoint on the Indy Metro FOOLS website and thought that it needed to be shared. It talks about pride, integrity and mentoring in the fire service. It questions how we do the job. Do we take the good …
Read More »
Understaffed Truck Work: Ladders
Most fire departments, if they are even lucky enough to staff a truck company, often struggle with how to maximize the tasks that the truck can accomplish on the fireground. Since times are tough and budgets are tougher, increasing staffing is unlikely…
Read More »
Fire Attack: Nozzle Firefighter Basics
Once you’ve scene the video from the “Straight Stream vs. Fog” post (January 13, 2009), you may have a new appreciation for using a straight stream during interior fire attack. Next we’ll look at a few ways to make the interior fire attack more…
Read More »
New SCBA Technology
Check out this link! This is a prototype for a new SCBA design that could significantly improve firefighter safety while operating at building fires and, hopefully, improve firefighter health through stress reduction.
As we all know, the only reason…
Read More »
