Aquired Structure LFT Nozzle and Hoseline Set Up

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Permalink Reply by Drew Smith on November 9, 2008 at 2:32am

In most cases, when the primary objective is attaking the fire and not search, vent, etc. we use the following for acquired structures (not tower burns):

Attack line: 1&3/4 hose with solid bore 15/16 (most o the time) or 2&1/2 with 1.25 inch solid bore.
In some drills we add on a small 1/4 inch garden hose to the tip. This restricts flow to show how a 50 GPM flow affect a certan volume of fire with the intent being that if the regular tip (15/16 or 1.25 inch) flowing 180-325 GPMs isn't knocking the fire quickly then the fire is exceeding hte hoseline.
In some drills we use the fog nozzle that are on our preconnected 1&3/4 lines to ensure the members keep them on straight stream for interior work. In our candidate class, we do a burn where we open up the line at full flow using a combination attack and upset the thermal balance and then tel them "don't do that."

Back up line: Another line identical to the attack line but never has the 1/4 inch tip.

Instructor line: 1&3/4 line with old selectable gallonage fog nozzle usually set to 60 GPM but can be dialed up to 125 GPM. While we lay and charge this, it is rarely used. We mostly control the fire with a pump can or other water extinguiser.

WTF line: Always a 2&1/2 off the alternate water source and always has a smooth bore tip.

Permalink Reply by Tony Piontek on June 1, 2009 at 12:54pm

1403 says lines should be capable of flowing a MINIMUM of 95 gpm. Play with the gray area there if you dare. If you have ever seen a stream eaten up by fire at that flow, you will know why I am answering the way I am.

Attack line: inch and 3/4 line, 15/15 smoothbore.

Backup line: inch and 3/4 line, 1" smoothbore.

RIT line: inch and 3/4 line, 200@75 constant gallonage.

Blitz/exposure line: deuce and a half with a smoothbore inch and 1/4 tip.

"Biff" line (instructor line): same as attack, but have used the constant gallonage chief.

The biggest thing to point out is the gallonage of the nozzles chosen. They need to be able to put the fire out, period, no exceptions. Analyze the reason they are in position...if you can argue it, I'd like to hear it. It's about safety, pretty straightforward.