I'm amazed by the number of scientific studies that are calling for firefighters to change the way we are doing things. Now I may not be the sharpest tool in the box but have you read about this "Transitional Attack" idea? I hope I am stating this all correctly but this is what I'm hearing;
Point #1- Have the first hoseline directed into the window of the involved room to slow down the fire, and don't worry, doing this will not push fire, heat and smoke into the other areas of the structure.
NONSENSE! Yes it will! I don't care what the scientists discovered at their test fires, I have been to plenty of fires where a hoseline either deliberately or accidently or momentarily was directed into a window or down a hall or into a room and it moved fire, and lots of it!
Point #2- The stream must be in the straight stream position and held motionless pointing at the ceiling.
RIGHT! Now the nozzle firefighter has to get to the window where the fire is venting and hold the nozzle without moving it, pointed at the ceiling, in the straight stream position. What happens if it is rotated? What happens if it is moved horizontally back and forth? What happens if it is in the narrow fog position? I'll bet the answers to those three questions are; House burns down!
Point #3 - While this first line is flowing into the window, a second line is stretched to the entrance door and prepares for the interior attack.
Sounds good but all I keep hearing from departments large and small is that there are not enough people on the fireground to perform all the tactics that are required. Now we are going to be able to just find a second hoseline team to stretch and advance that interior attack line. I don't think so!
Here are a few more issues I have with this idea;
How do we communicate and coordinate these two "opposing lines"? When does line #1 shut down at the window and who orders that?
Why don't we stretch the FIRST line to the front door, enter the building, locate the fire and close the door to the room that is on fire? Then have the outside line give a quick shot of water to slow down this room of fire that we are so afraid to enter, before the interior line enters and knocks the fire down the old fashioned way.
What do you think?
