Fires in large multiple dwellings often require hose stretches that exceed the length of preconnected hoselines. When an engine company determines that a fire is beyond the reach of its longest preconnect, it has two options. One option is to connect more hose of the same diameter to the preconnect. In Part 1, we examined why there is a limit to how much a 1½- and 1¾-inch preconnect can be lengthened by adding hose of the same diameter. Each fire … >>

In 2003, I wrote a three-part article on hose- line operations for fires in multiple dwellings.1 That article examined considerations and methods relative to stretching and advancing hoselines to fires on the upper floors of residential buildings that are not tall enough for codes to require standpipes—that is, today, generally buildings that are no taller than 30 feet in height. In our line of work, a lot can change in nine years, so I think it’s time to take another … >>

As a result of the slump in our national economy, families, extended families, migrant workers, college students, and others are forced to seek affordable housing. Unscrupulous building owners can make sizeable sums of money from converting what was a single-family home to multiple illegal apartments or single-room occupancies (SROs). These “sabotaged” buildings are death traps for firefighters and a major concern for firefighters across our country. Often, these buildings are right under our noses, disguised as single-family homes. These converted … >>

On arrival, firefighters find a one-story ranch-style home with heavy smoke pushing from the soffit vents under the eaves overhanging the home’s exterior walls. The battalion chief in command of the incident suspects a fire that has either originated in or extended to the attic. Based on his observation, he orders firefighters, protected by a charged hoseline, to pull ceiling immediately on entering the front door. After forcing the front door, firefighters are surprised to find the house completely clear … >>