August-September 2003 Issue

I would like to dedicate this article to my close friend Andy Fredericks. I was honored to teach beside him, humbled to be his student, and honored to be his friend. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. God bless, Andy.

Editors Note: In the last issue Lt. Rush discussed advancing the 1¾-inch line and the three positions on the hoseline. Lt . Rush finishes his discussion by describing the operations of the “backup firefighter” and the “door firefighter.”

Although some say that the nozzle position should be reserved for the veteran firefighter, others will contend that the two most important positions are the backup firefighter and the door firefighter. The backup firefighter will take the majority of the nozzle reaction forces so that the nozzle firefighter can move the nozzle about freely. The backup firefighter must anticipate which direction the advance will go and move accordingly. If the nozzle firefighter has to go left, than the backup firefighter would have to go right, and vice versa. If the nozzle firefighter goes up, than the backup firefighter must go down, and vice versa. In addition, the backup firefighter must help keep the nozzle out in front of the nozzle firefighter, as stated earlier, but be very careful not to push or pull the nozzle firefighter. The backup firefighter’s positioning should be anywhere from right behind the nozzle firefighter to one arm length, depending on preference, staffing, and reaction forces. This position also serves well to check all doors and ceiling spaces during the advance, as well as chocking any doorways. It is justifiably argued that the backup firefighter position should be the officer when a two- or three-person crew in is place.

Needless to say, the backup position is quite laborious, and therefore proper technique is important. Rather than just holding onto the hose as the team advances, the backup firefighter should use the “Seattle lock.” This enables the backup firefighter to use his or her entire body weight rather than just arm strength.


Photo 1 — Notice the backup firefighter’s position behind the nozzle firefighter. Everyone should be on the same side of the line. Should the officer be in this position, he or she will be able to evaluate conditions during the attack.	Photo 2 — A better hand position is the “Seattle lock.” The backup firefighter hooks the hose with the right arm and grasps the left forearm, which in turn takes hold of the handline. This enables the backup firefighter to use bodyweight as leverage.

The door firefighter plays a pivotal role in the advance of the handline. As staffing levels fall, advancing hose is becoming harder and harder. There are techniques, however, that can maximize our efforts. The door firefighter is just that; the firefighter at the door. His or her main role is to feed hose to the backup and nozzle firefighters. The door firefighter must keep in mind that he or she may initially be standing in a large opening, a very opportune exit hole (and possibly the only exit hole until coordinated ventilation by a truck company takes place) for the products of combustion. This area is often referred to as the “chimney.” Therefore, the door firefighter should be to one side of the door and low, out of the “chimney,” so that he or she is both out of the direct path of the products of combustion and can also see what is going on around him or her. Many firefighters have found victims by simply staying low and looking under the blanket of smoke into the fire room. Once the nozzle firefighter and backup firefighter are out of sight, the door firefighter must continue to feed hose by using the “bow” technique. The “bow” technique is done by making a bow or bend at the door firefighter’s position. As the slack in that bow tightens, the door firefighter knows that the nozzle team is advancing and can create another bow. Make sure to pull hose from the outside in order to make the bow so as not to push the nozzle team towards the fire.

Keep in mind that the door firefighter will not always be at the door. Depending on how far the nozzle firefighter and backup firefighter push, the door firefighter will have to move up from corner to corner to facilitate the advance. In addition, the door firefighter may have to be responsible for walking out the kinks in the line so as not to jeopardize flow. If more personnel are available, assign them to additional door positions and maximize the advance.

Now that the nozzle team is assembled, we can advance the handline. Prior to advancing inside the fire area, the nozzle team must communicate with each other and make sure all members are ready. This may be done in any number of ways as long as all members are on the same page. A simple pat on the helmet by all nozzle team members will do. There must also be communication for water. Before personnel take the door, the nozzle firefighter must make sure that there is water at the nozzle, commonly referred to as “bleeding the hose.” This serves two purposes. First, it lets all air out of the hose so that there is a proper stream (solid or straight). Second, the nozzle firefighter will be able to tell that the pump is in gear, there is pressure, and they are not entering the fire area only at pump idle. The nozzle team must maintain control of the door. Take a minute to size up your entry point. What type of door are you dealing with? Which side of the door do you want to be on? Is the door inward or outward swinging? Is the door right or left swinging? Can you tell the basic layout of the structure, particularly the direction of the bedrooms, by looking at the opening? If the door is metal, is it swollen? If the is door wooden, is there blistering paint? Do you have smoke pushing or puffing from the door jam? These are all basic questions the nozzle team must address before opening a door.

Once the door is opened (via forcible entry, etc.), the nozzle team must maintain control of that door. Do not simply kick the door open and let it swing freely. The nozzle team must have a way to close the door should a situation prevail. By using a piece of rope, webbing, or even a hose strap around the doorknob, the nozzle team can close the door if need be. Although this may not be very important when entering a structure from the outside (keep in mind it may fuel the fire), it is vital when making entry through a door on the inside of a structure (multiple dwelling apartments with common public hallways, for example). Maintain door control — this is excellent nozzle-team discipline.

In addition to maintaining door control, the nozzle team must make every effort to chock the doorway open. This serves several purposes. First, as stated earlier, the door opening is a primary vent hole; therefore, use it as such! Second, when advancing a handline through a doorway, we always want to make sure the door does not close on the handline. This is of primary importance when entering a structure with an uncharged handline. Catastrophic results have emerged from doors closing on uncharged handlines. It is also good discipline to chock doorways when entering with charged handlines as well. This way the hose coupling will not get jammed in the door should it close. Although this may not seem life-threatening, it will save time and keep understaffed crews from sending a team member back to fix the problem.

Where and how do we chock doorways? There are several different methods. The most obvious is to use a wood chock. Proper placement of the chock, however, is critical. I do not place the chock on the ground underneath the door because it stands a promising chance of being dislodged by a boot or advancing handline. Try placing the chock above one of the hinges. This seems to work quite well.

Now that the nozzle team has entered the structure or fire room, they must advance to the seat of the fire. It is the responsibility of all nozzle team members to size up the situation. Maintain your positions! This will take communication, discipline, and training. As discussed earlier, the nozzle firefighter must use a straight or solid stream, vigorously “whip” the hose in a clockwise motion, and occasionally sweep the floor as the team advances.

Remember, there will be times when advancing that the nozzle team will be so low to the ground that they are actually on their stomachs — affectionately called the “belly” maneuver. A good technique to use, should the nozzle firefighter be in this position, is to lie on your side and use your feet to kick and slide along the floor. This way you will still have excellent control of the nozzle; control you would not have if you actually lie on your stomach on top of the hose.

As we all know, fire conditions vary from one situation to another. Fire conditions are different than they have been in previous years; they are hotter and more intense. For example, we have always been taught not to open up on smoke. Is this the best tactic today?^[i] Perhaps putting water on smoke in certain situations will protect us. No matter what the tactic may be, when advancing a handline, remember the basics. Never pass closed doors with out checking for extension. Always check the ceiling above before advancing, especially if a truck company member is not available. Put all efforts into placing that first handline in service. Know where the fire is and where it will most likely be pushed. When the nozzle team is advancing they must be cognizant of where the fire will go.

As I have mentioned before, communication is a must with all companies when advancing. Do the engine company and truck company have coordinated attack and ventilation? Does the engine company attacking the fire know if and where there are firefighters above the fire floor? If so, do they have a plan to protect them? Is a back up line coming? Discipline is imperative on the fireground. Each unit has a job that is pivotal to the operation. Avoid the “moth to the flame” syndrome and maintain focus on the task at hand. Fire attack dictates all crews work as a finely tuned machine. If every unit on the fireground coordinates their task with each other, the end result will be a positive, safe one. Many fireground tactics are no different than they were years ago, while others are changing — make no mistake. However, it is our obligation to each other to be as safe as possible. Maintain an open mind and gain as much knowledge as possible. Continually strive to learn while never setting the basics aside. Entertain new ideas, but never forget the ideas that work. Training is the best arena to review old principles and to investigate new tactics. You will never know until you try.

[i] Fredericks, Andrew A., “Little Drops of Water: 50 Years Later,” Fire Engineering, March 2000, 113-135.