Nozzle Nerd Series: The Stretch & Beyond

Our bread and butter fires are our main focus during training and operational planning and rightfully so, but are we prepared for the atypical? What happens if we went to a fire where our pre-connected lines do reach or the 1.75” is not enough? How do you reach further?

Every engine company needs to master the basic stretch of their primary attack line but we cannot negate the need for longer line deployments and have options for accomplishing such. This post, we will discuss different options for reaching farther than our pre-connected attack lines, extending lines, and long runs.

Every department is going to be different. Long lines will be dependent on your district and department norms. For this discussion, any line over 300’ will be considered a long stretch. When looking at your attack line options, what is your bread and butter lines? What is long and what is the longest you have ever stretched? More importantly, how do you stretch the long lines and what is the communication like?

I firmly believe that long lines are more critical to the success of the fire ground than the typical 100-300’ line. We practice the 100-200’ stretches often (hopefully), but our largest target hazards in most communities typically require something longer than our 100-300’ attack lines and usually bigger than a 1.75” hose, depending on fire progression. If we have not practiced these and have a terminology with our crew, these operations are going to suffer significantly.

Extending Lines

The first option for any long stretch is ability to extend your lines. This can be done with another pre-connected line or with a hose pack. We will discuss different hose packs towards the end, but this is accomplished by stretching your 1.75 attack line and then extending another 1.75” line from the previous. Past recommendations have been a max of 300-400’ for 1.75 attack line because of high nozzle pressure and friction loss. Due to the changes in hose and friction loss, longer stretches are possible without having to drastically increase our RPM on our pumps. We can run lines much longer, 500+ up to 700’, which we have done. Again, this is due to the fact that we are running low pressure and low friction loss of 15psi/ 100’. This distance is greatly dependent on your nozzle pressure and friction loss of your hose. One key piece of equipment to quickly extend lines are is the use of the breakaway nozzle. This is a nozzle which your smoothbore or fog tip can be removed without having to remove the entire nozzle. This because critical when we discuss leader lines. This type of nozzle also allow for hose line operations prior to extending.

The biggest limiting factor for extending lines is the increase in friction loss with long lines. For residential fires in traditional structures, extending line is acceptable. When operating in commercial structures, I prefer and highly recommend a 2.5”. Even if the fire could be handled with a 1.75, I like to have the back up of a larger line if needed. We will discuss this in the next section.

Leader Lines/ Apartment Lays

A leader line is when a 2.5” line is stretched and then extended with a 1.75” hose, without a gated wye. My preference for this is if we are going a long distance but mainly for apartments. If encountered with an apartment fire, especially in the third floor, our go to is a 2.5” to the third floor with the Gustin Pack. Depending on what apartment we go to, our stretch may differ but the minimum is 300’ of 2.5” tot he third floor. If our access and stairs are located in the middle of the structure, we can stick with the 300’. This is knowing we have 50’-100’ to the door, and bottom of the stairs, 50’ for each floor of stairs for return stairs and then 100’ for the top floor to get close to the fire apartment. This is then extended with a 100’ of 1.75” hose Gustin pack. This allows us to have 50’ at the apartment door. Things change when we have straight run stairs with wrap around landings. This is where the stairs go from floor 1 to floor 2 in a straight run, but a landing to start another straight run of stairs. This type of stairs can consume 75’+ of hose.

I prefer this instead of the 400’ of 1.75” due to the possibility of the fire extending. If the fire penetrates the drywall and extends into the attic space, we have the ability to retreat back to the 2.5” location, pull ceiling across the center hall apartments and then create a point to make a stand before the fire runs the attic. This provides the crew with a large line if the fire progresses, but also maneuverability for the initial attack of the apartment.

When trained, this tactic can easily be accomplished in under 3 minutes. Our crew has conducted this tactic in less than 2 minutes with 300’ of 2.5” to the third floor with a 100’ of 1.75” deployment.

Hose Packs

Just like hose loads, there are a lot of different options for hose packs. The list is endless to include: the flat load, FDNY load, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Detroit, but my preference is the Gustin Pack, as seen above.

The Gustin is 100’ of 1.75”. The loading of this line allows an easy deployment and stretch before connecting the line. This pack has 3 straps which are 40-42 inches. These straps are important for securing the bale of 2.5” shutoff.

Other Options

When faced with situations which require you to stretch longer, it is important to understand your environment and your resources. If you have other supply options, these need to be considered. 2.5” hose can get you a very long ways, but how much do you carry on your apparatus? IN addition, do you have 3” or is your next option LDH? Do you have manifolds or gated wyes?

When faced with a structure that required a long stretch due to height, we have more and better options than a long lay. If the structure is not equipped with a standpipe, a vertical stretch will allow quick deployment and reduce the amount of hose to stretch. A soft standpipe is when a 2.5” hose is stretched vertically either on the exterior or through a stair well hole to the desired floor. With commercial structures have higher floors, a 50’ section of hose can easily reach a 3rd or 4th floor window or balcony. When completing this tactic, ensure the hose is tied off to prevent the hose from falling back to the ground.

This works well for apartment fires. Stretch the soft standpipe to a balcony near the fire apartment and stretch through one apartment to the hallway (if center hall) and then use your hose pack to extend off. This reduces the amount of hose to be stretched and the speed at which it takes. When facing one of these situations, ensure someone have a rope bag available to conduct this operations.

When stretching long, it’s important that crews have common terminology and have performed these operations in the past. The more the hose can be shouldered , the faster the stretch will go. Ensure the crew understands the hose load and how to deploy properly can make the difference. When going long, it will take time to properly place the line in service. Just don’t pick the easiest stretch or the light hose. Set yourself up for success by having options for this situations and chose the option to ensure you win.