Brennan Firepics Comments 8

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TOM BRENNAN has more than 35 years of fire service experience having responded to 33,000 fire alarms. His career spans more than 20 years with the Fire Department of New York as well as four years as chief of the Waterbury (Conn.) Fire Department. He has a bachelor of science degree, summa cum laude, John Jay College; Alumnus of the Year Award, John Jay College; chairman of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association and a charter member of the National Fire Protection Association, Fire Service Section. He has delivered courses and seminars throughout the United States and has instructed at the National Fire Academy. He was the editor of Fire Engineering Magazine for eight years, is currently a technical editor, and his column “Random Thoughts,” is a regular monthly feature. He is co-editor of The Fire Chief’s Handbook, Fifth Edition. He is the recipient of the 1998 Fire Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award.

PLATOONING THE LINE!

Handline operation depends (for sure) on a team that can work together and advance the line as quickly as possible. In the paid sector, this efficiency should be handled at roll call at the start of the tour of duty in the engine company. Assignments made — No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 (if you are lucky).

The photo here captures what can happen when the handline team doesn’t have a coordinate and does not have a value on each of the members of the handline crew.

The key to successful nozzle operation is the No. 2 firefighter. Inside dwellings, his job is to keep the nozzle “moving” without snags. He is on the outside of any last turn to smoothly pass the hose around the outside corner. There is always the “nonsense” proposition that the backup person belongs opposite the firefighter using the nozzle. NOPE! He is on the outside of the last turn.

He should be quick enough to “feel” nozzle movement and quickly scurry to move his piece of hose in line with the direction of the nozzle.

Here in this photo is the reason for strains and sprains on the part of the nozzle team. The nozzle firefighter should be as comfortably upright as possible and as much as the fire condition allows. An upward direction of the nozzle should be supported by a downward move of the No. 2 firefighter, and, in this case, a pressing of the hose line to the ground. Conversely, should the nozzle man choose to direct the nozzle downward, No. 2 should have his piece of hose overhead.

Please don’t ask me what that “spectator” with some gear on is doing! No wonder we lose manpower levels!

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