Chief Concerns

by Richard Marinucci

Moving Water Effectively Is Key To Putting Out Big Fires

In today’s fire service, the best way we know how to put out a fire is pour water on it. Our job is to overcome the BTUs with enough water to cool the fire.

Not surprisingly, in almost all cases, water is the extinguishing agent of choice.

The challenge to fire departments is to be both efficient and effective in the delivery of water. The water must be applied to the base of the flames to be most effective, although we need to keep in mind there are indirect methods of extinguishment.

The efficiency and effectiveness is determined by the source and amount of the water, apparatus and equipment used, and the capabilities of the firefighters utilizing the apparatus and equipment.

All of these must match – that is the amount of water needed must be delivered through equipment capable of doing so by people trained appropriately. It is a very simple concept.

Most fire departments believe they are most capable with the bread and butter operations – usually a single-family dwelling. This is the case because it is the most frequent type of fire faced, though the frequency can vary from department to department, station to station and even shift to shift.

It also is potentially the simplest with respect to water delivery. It will involve one or two lines and a fire hydrant or tank water.
Rarely will a department use all its capabilities on a single-family dwelling. We will not use the largest hose, and we will not come close to pumping to the capacity of the rating of the pump on the fire engine.

In this case, you should assess the amount of water most likely needed. Experience will tell you that typically less than 500 GPM is delivered. If you concur with this logic, then the job is to figure the most efficient way to get the water from the source to the fire.
Specifications for fire apparatus, equipment capabilities, and the skills of your personnel must match the amount of water delivered.

Limitations
From the water source to the fire, you will need a pump, hose, and a nozzle. Evaluate what you use compared to the fire threat and hazard presented.

For example, if you don’t expect to deliver much more than 500 gpm, you may not need to specify a 1,500 gpm pump. If your staffing is such that you can only deploy a certain number of lines, then there will be limitations on the amount of water that can be produced.

Again, if you have a 1,500 gpm pump, but not enough people to staff the hand lines, then there is a disconnect. If you have a large diameter hose line with little flexibility and not enough people to manage it effectively, there is a waste of capabilities.

A 2.5-inch line requires enough people to move and manipulate it into position and advance as needed. Inadequate staffing would suggest that a more manageable size line be selected.

For dwelling fires, rarely is the outcome based upon 1.5-, 1.75-, or 2-inch hose being deployed. If this is the case, selection of hose size should be based upon your needs.

The last part of the water movement equipment is the nozzle. These should be selected based upon the tactics to be employed. There often is debate over whether to use smooth-bore, adjustable or other types of nozzles. Again the answer is found in an examination of the objective. All varieties of nozzles have a place and have been effective in various situations. Your tactics will dictate the use.

Regardless the type of nozzle selected, fire personnel need the proper training on what to use and when it is most appropriate. The major point to remember is evaluate the hazards and match the equipment to the needs. Do not do something because others do it that way or because your organization has always done it that way. Think about what you are trying to accomplish.

Large Volumes
Water movement becomes more challenging when the fire gets bigger and more volume is needed. The equipment may change and the frequency of the situations which require large volumes of water require that fire departments train, practice, and establish sound procedures.

The premise remains the same – take water from the source and apply it to the fire. The elements change slightly. The water source must be adequate. If you have hydrants, most likely you are in good shape. But don’t take it for granted. You need to know the capabilities of your water system. Consider the expectations for gpm flow in all areas of your community.

If a hydrant system is not available, alternative water sources must be found. Departments will still need water at the scene to even have a chance of stopping a fire, and the question will become how to get it to the scene.

Relays And Shuttles
In some cases it could involve relay pumping. For this, the fire engines and hose must be adequate to deliver the water over the distances expected. The pump size must be able to deliver the water to the next part of the relay in the amount required to continue the operation.

The hose size must be such that the end output is adequate considering friction loss and other hydraulic factors affecting discharge. It also requires personnel that understand the process and practice to ensure capabilities when the services are required.

When relays are not possible or practical, a water shuttle system will be used. Most often tanker/tender trucks are used with a place to “dump” or off load the water into a portable tank. Match your apparatus and portable tanks to the needs anticipated.

In areas with hydrants, knowledge of the grid is very helpful. Taking water from the same line with multiple vehicles can over-extend the system. You also need to know what is expected so the equipment, pumps and personnel are adequate to deliver the volume needed. The fire engines can deliver water based upon their ratings. This is part of the equation. The water system must be able to deliver the water, and there must be adequate staffing to make this happen. It is a system, and all parts must be compatible.

Master Streams
For fires requiring large volumes of water, we have discussed the various potential sources. We mentioned the hose and pumps needed to get the water to the fire ground.

Once the water is on the fire ground, the next component is the method of delivery to the fire. For really large fires, master streams are usually the choice, delivered from a defensive mode. The devices can be portable, vehicle mounted, or from an elevated stream.

Know your capabilities and they should match the hazards in your community. Once the water supply is established and the lines deployed, the anticipated defensive operation is not as labor intensive as it was in setting up the operation.

The job is to now get the water to the seat of the fire – which in this case is a large seat.

Whatever the size of the fire, departments need the equipment that works for them. Departments ought to have good grasp of the benefits of the various nozzles available and select the one most appropriate for the application. Reading and researching will go a long way to helping departments make wise choices. Department also ought to be willing to experiment and try different nozzles. Done during training, the exercise will help everyone gain a better understanding of what they will and will not do and will increase the firefighters abilities.

Delivering water is a basic concept and is part of the core competencies of every department.

Simplified, it is about moving water from a reliable source to the fire. Break down your needs from source to fire to determine the best way to do this with apparatus, equipment and personnel.
Rarely can we say that ineffective moving of water was the sole component attributed to an ensuing disastrous fire.

It’s unlikely firefighters in those departments will conclude larger pumps, bigger hoses and better nozzles would have affected the outcome of the fire.

The key to extinguishing any fire, big or small pivots on finding and maintaining the most efficient and effective way to get the right amount of water to the place or object that is on fire.
It’s as simple as that.

Editor’s Note: Richard Marinucci is chief of the Farmington Hills (Mich.) Fire Department, a position he’s held since 1984. He is a past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and past chairman of the Commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation. In 1999, he served as senior advisor to Director James Lee Witt of FEMA and acting chief operating officer of the United States Fire Administration for seven months as part of a loan program between the City of Farmington Hills and FEMA. He holds three bachelor’s degrees in fire science and administration, belongs to several fire service organizations, has taught extensively and been involved with the development of many courses.