21 Fire Suppression Skill Drills

2 Objectives Apply water using the direct, indirect or combination attack. Use a large handline using the one- or two- fire fighter method. Operate deck guns. Operate portable monitors. Locate and suppress interior wall and subfloor fires. Extinguish a fire in a flammable gas cylinder. 21

3 Skill Drill 21-1 Performing a Direct Attack 1.Exit the fire apparatus wearing full PPE, including SCBA. 2.Select the proper hose line used to fight the fire depending on the fire’s size, location, and type. 3.Advance the hose line from the apparatus to the entry point of the structure. 4.Don face piece, activate SCBA and PASS device prior to entering the building. 5.Signal the driver/operator that you are ready for water. 6.Open the nozzle to purge air from the system and make sure water is flowing. 21

4 Skill Drill 21-1 Performing a Direct Attack 7.Make sure ventilation is completed or in progress. 8.Enter into the structure and locate the seat of the fire. 9.Apply water in either a straight or solid stream onto the base of the fire in short bursts. 10.Watch for changes in fire condition; use only enough water to extinguish the fire. 11.Locate and extinguish hot spots. 21

5 Skill Drill 21-2 Performing an Indirect Attack 1.Exit the fire apparatus wearing full PPE, including SCBA. 2.Select the correct hose line to be used to attack the fire depending on the type of fire, its location, and size. 3.Advance the hose line from the apparatus to the opening in the structure where the indirect attack will be made. 4.Don face piece, activate SCBA and PASS device. 5.Notify the driver/operator that you are ready for water. 6.Open the nozzle to be sure that air is purged from the hose line and that water is flowing. If using a fog nozzle, ensure proper nozzle pattern for entry. Shut down the nozzle until you are in a position to apply water. 21

6 Skill Drill 21-2 Performing an Indirect Attack 7.Advance with a charged hose line to the location where you are going to apply water. 8.Direct the water stream toward the upper levels of the room and ceiling into the heated area overhead and move the stream back and forth. Flow water until the room begins to darken. Then shut the nozzle off and assess conditions. 9.Watch for changes and reduction in the amount of fire. Once the fire is reduced, shut down the nozzle. 10.Check to make sure ventilation has been completed. 11.Attack remaining fire and hot spots until extinguished. 21

7 Skill Drill 21-3 Performing a Combination Attack 1.Wearing full PPE and SCBA, select the correct hose line to accomplish the suppression task at hand. 2.Stretch the hose line to the entry point of the structure and signal the driver/operator that you are ready to receive water. 3.Open the nozzle to get the air out and be sure that water is flowing. 21

8 Skill Drill 21-3 Performing a Combination Attack 4.Enter the structure and locate the room or area of origin of the fire. 5.Aim your nozzle at the upper left corner of the fire and make either a “T,” “O,” or “Z” pattern with the nozzle. Remember to start high and work the pattern down to the fire level. 6.Use only enough water to darken down the fire without upsetting the thermal layering. 7.Once the fire has been reduced, find the remaining hot spots, and complete extinguishments using a direct attack. 21

9 Skill Drill 21-4 One-Fire Fighter Method for Operating a Large Handline Step 1: Close the nozzle and then make a loop with the hose, assuring that the nozzle is UNDER the hose line that is coming from the fire apparatus. 21

10 Skill Drill 21-4 One-Fire Fighter Method for Operating a Large Handline Step 2: Lash the hose together at the section of hose where they cross, or use your body weight to kneel or sit on the hose line at the point where the hose crosses itself. 21

11 Skill Drill 21-4 One-Fire Fighter Method for Operating a Large Handline Step 3: Be sure to allow enough hose to extend past the section where the line crosses itself for maneuverability. Step 4: Open the nozzle and direct water onto the designated area. 21

12 Skill Drill 21-5 Two-Fire Fighter Method for Operating a Large Handline Step 1: Stretch the hose line from the fire apparatus into position. Step 2: Advance the hose line as needed. 21

13 Skill Drill 21-5 Two-Fire Fighter Method for Operating a Large Handline Step 3: Before attacking the fire, the fire fighter on the nozzle should cradle the hose on his or her hip while grasping the nozzle with one hand and supporting the hose with the other hand. 21

14 Skill Drill 21-5 Two-Fire Fighter Method for Operating a Large Handline Step 4: The second fire fighter should stay approximately 3' behind the fire fighter on the nozzle. The second fire fighter should grasp the hose with two hands and may use a knee to stabilize the hose against the ground if necessary. Open the nozzle in a controlled fashion and direct water onto the fire or designated exposure. 21

15 Skill Drill 21-6 Operating a Deck Gun 1.Make sure that all firefighting personnel are out of a structure before using a deck gun. 2.Place the deck gun in position. 3.Aim the deck gun at the fire or at the intended exposure. 4.Signal the pump operator that you are ready for water. 5.Once water is flowing, adjust the angle, aim, or water flow as necessary. 21

16 Skill Drill 21-7 Setting Up and Operating a Portable Monitor 1.Remove the portable monitor from the fire apparatus and move it into position. 2.Attach the necessary hose lines to the monitor as per SOPs or manufacturer’s instructions. 21

17 Skill Drill 21-7 Setting Up and Operating a Portable Monitor 3.Be sure to loop the hose lines in front of the monitor to counteract the force created by water flowing out of the nozzle. 4.Signal the driver/operator that you are ready for water. 5.Aim the water stream at the fire or onto the designated exposure and adjust as necessary. 21

18 Skill Drill 21-8 Locating and Suppressing Fires Behind Walls and Under Subfloors 1.Locate the area of the fire building where a hidden fire is believed to be. 2.Look for signs of fire such as smoke coming from cracks or openings in walls, charred areas with no outward evidence of fire, and peeling or bubbled paint or wallpaper. Listen for cracks and pops or hissing steam. 3.If available, use a thermal imager to look for areas of heat that may indicate a hidden fire. 21

19 Skill Drill 21-8 Locating and Suppressing Fires Behind Walls and Under Subfloors 4.Using the back of your hand, feel for heat coming from a wall or floor. 5.If a hidden fire is suspected, use a tool such as an axe or Halligan to remove the building material over the area. 6.If fire is located, expose the area as well as possible and extinguish the fire using conventional firefighting methods. Be sure to expose as much area as needed without causing unnecessary damage. 21

20 Skill Drill 21-9 Suppressing a Flammable Gas Cylinder Fire 1.Cool the tank from a distance until the relief valve resets. 2.Wearing full PPE, two teams of fire fighters using a minimum of two 1 3/4" hose lines advance using an interlocking 90º-wide fog pattern for protection. Do not approach the cylinder from the ends. The team leader is located between the two nozzle persons and coordinates and directs the advance upon the cylinder. 21

Skill Drill 21-9 Suppressing a Flammable Gas Cylinder Fire 3.When the cylinder is reached, the two nozzle teams isolate the shutoff valve from the fire with their fog streams while the leader closes the tank valve, eliminating the fuel source. 4.After the burning gas is extinguished, the fire fighters continue to apply water to the cylinder to cool the metal so as to prevent tank failure resulting in a BLEVE. 21

22 Skill Drill 21-9 Suppressing a Flammable Gas Cylinder Fire 5.As cooling continues, fire fighters slowly back away from the cylinder, never turning their backs to it. 21