Interior Attack

Here the firefighters are shown pulling a hose line inside a structure fire. First #3 makes entry, sounds the floor and continues toward the fire. As soon, as #3 makes entry, #4 begins to TIC for the 4L’s. They relay any pertinent information to their partner. After TIC’ing, #4 starts to pull hose. They keep an eye on the progress of their partner and pull enough hose to help get #3 to the seat of the ifre. When they’re done pulling in enough hose, they will chock the door open. This is a key difference between making entry on an engine vs a truck. On an engine, since the firefighters have water with them and can use it to control the fire, they are less concerned with flowpath and more concerned with making an aggressive interior attack. The faster they can get to the seat of the fire and get knockdown, the more likely the unprotected victims inside will survive. If they closed the door behind them, it would put undue friction on the hoseline slowing them down. Once #3 begins feeling heat pushing them down to the floor, they will perform a hit and move. Hit and move is done to take and make space in the compartment. The firefighter opens the nozzle in an approved method and uses the reach of the stream to take space (ie take some heat out of the fire down range). They then will make space around them using a wall-ceiling-wall technique. This not only continues to cool the compartment, but also ensures the fire won’t get behind them. Remember, the fire is seeking low pressure, so the firefighters use their hose stream to coat the walls and ceiling above them, making it safer for them to operate. The nozzle will then sweep the floor in a circular motion, clearing any debris in front of them, but also to create a pressure front that can keep the fire from pushing back towards them. Once the nozzle has done this, they will shut the line down and continue to advance towards the seat of the fire. #4 will continue to pull hose and communicate with the nozzle about their needs. When #3 reaches the seat of the fire, as indicated by an increase in heat, light and/or noise level of the fire, they will open the nozzle again and determine if they need to make a Push. In this evolution, it has been determined that a Push is appropriate due to the high heat preventing the attack team from getting to the seat of the fire. It’s important to remember though, that a Push is not performed on every fire. If it’s possible to get knock down without it, then do so. In this case though, they’re going to make a Push. The nozzle opens the line and begins to flow water in the same manner as before. They then call back to their partner to bump up for a Push. Once the heel bumps up and taps them on the shoulder, the two make their Push. As they round the corner, the nozzle fights the seat of the fire in a Hi-lo fashion. They start their stream up high and then work it back down low to control the fire and get knock down. Once the nozzle has enough hose in position, the heel can begin to use their TIC to search for victims and any fire extension. If they find a victim, they’ll check for entanglements and any additional victims before anchoring the victim to the hose line. They’ll communicate with their partner about their findings before beginning extrication efforts. Upon hearing about the victim, the nozzle will then lead their partner out and give their chain of command a PPN. Refer to the SDFD Engine Company SOG for the script on how to use the radio. Once the extrication has been made, perform whatever aide is needed for the victim and update your chain of command via radio.