Is Your Weapon Ready For Combat?

By Brett C. Graves

The fire ground is often compared to a military battleground. Imagine what a battlefield would look like if soldiers were not properly trained in the use and maintenance of their weapons. The end result would be ugly. The same holds true for firefighters. The nozzle is the most important weapon for an engine company and arguably in the fire department’s arsenal. But is it treated as such?

It is safe to say that a large number of engine and truck companies in the American Fire Service carry an Automatic External Defibulator (AED). Such an important piece of life-saving equipment requires frequent training and maintenance, such as checking the unit daily to ensure that its batteries are fully charged and the device is ready for use. Why isn’t this same attention given to nozzles?

The Automatic External Defibulator (AED) is only capable of saving one life at a time, while a nozzle, on the other hand, is capable of saving multiple lives. It is not to suggest that training on and maintaining the Automatic External Defibulator (AED) is not time well spent. It is, however, suggested that the same attention MUST be given to the most important combat weapon, the nozzle [1].

After sitting in the hose bed for long periods of time between fires, collecting dust and debris, it cannot be taken for granted that nozzles will function properly. They must be checked daily and trained with frequently.

It cannot be overstated how important it is that ALL firefighters, not just those assigned to an engine company, understand the operation, capabilities, and the pros and cons of nozzles used by their respective departments. Even though you may be assigned to a truck or a rescue company, the time may come when you get detailed to an engine company or, God forbid, something goes wrong and you have to replace members of the engine company operating a line. If you are not familiar with the nozzles used in your department or nozzles used by departments that you frequently run with, you may be putting yourself and your company in grave danger.

Nozzle Training Considerations

• Know how to open and close the nozzle. You may be thinking all you have to do is pull the bail back toward you to open the nozzle; in most cases this is true. However, there is a nozzle out there equipped with a bail that does not control the flow of water. On this particular nozzle the flow of water is controlled by rotating the bumper to the left or all the way to the right to open and close the nozzle. The bail changes the pattern between a fog and a solid (smoothbore) stream, or both simultaneously. Knowing this important piece of information may prevent a trip to the burn unit.

• Know the various types of nozzles and their flow capabilities. Know the difference between fixed gallonage, adjustable gallonage, and automatic nozzles. Ensure that your department’s pump operators know the proper pump pressure for each nozzle, so that the desired GPM is being discharged. GPM’s are the name of the game, and if you want to win the battle, you need all the ammunition you can get. Go out and test your hose and nozzle systems to ensure you are pumping them properly. (See "Planning a Hose and Nozzle System," by Lt. Jay Comella, Fire Nuggets Oct. – Nov. 2004). Give each member the opportunity to operate a hose line that is being pumped at the correct pressure and flowing the correct GPM. This will allow each member to feel nozzle reaction when being pumped correctly.

• Know the pros and cons of each nozzle. Knowing the pros and cons of each nozzle that is available to you will contribute to a more successful firefight. For example, an automatic nozzle is designed to produce a great looking fire stream for flow ranges of 50-350 GPM; however, just because you have a great looking stream does not mean that you have enough water in the stream to successfully out-gun the fire.

Nozzle Maintenance

• Check every nozzle every day. At the start of every shift make checking nozzles a top priority. Ensure nozzles are clean and free of debris. The waterway of a fog nozzle is a magnet for debris. Make sure it gets flushed out so you are not losing valuable GPM’s. Check all smoothbore tips. Make sure they will easily spin free from the shut off. You never know when you might have to remove the tip to extend a line. Also, check the tips to ensure the gasket is present and in good condition.

• Consult manufacturer recommendations. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for maintaining and repairing nozzles. You don’t want to be responsible for using the wrong lubricant or trying to make repairs that only the manufacturer should be making.

Conclusion

The nozzle is our most important weapon. Conducting frequent nozzle training and maintenance is the only way to ensure combat readiness. Get into your arsenal and learn everything you can about the weapons it holds. Our lives and the lives of the people we are sworn to protect depend on it.

1. “Don’t Worry ‘Bout That Nozzle, Kid, ‘Cause We Don’t Do Fires Anymore,” Andrew Fredericks, Fire Engineering FDIC Speaker Series. [Return to text]

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