There has been much talk lately about fire streams—interior streams, exterior streams, master streams and much more. I’d like to talk this month about exterior streams, what they are, how they can be used effectively and when they should be used.
Exterior streams are exactly what they sound like—streams used to fight fire from the exterior of the involved building or buildings. There are a number of conditions that should prompt you to consider using an exterior stream rather than an interior attack.
The first indicator is a fully involved building. Now let’s be perfectly clear here: Fully involved means most or almost all of the building is burning, and you could not enter the building with an attack hoseline even if you wanted to. This is usually a fairly obvious condition, and the response too should be an easy decision—an exterior stream.
In this scenario, you will have several choices. Certainly a 2½-inch handline can be used, or you could use a master stream, such as an engine company deck pipe. The deck pipe will give you more water but less maneuverability. Another important point to remember when directing exterior streams into a fully involved building or a multi-story building with several floors involved is that the stream should be directed into the lowest involved floor first. After knocking down that level, the stream should be repositioned to the next higher involved floor and moved up floor by floor, extinguishing the highest floor last.
Another exterior stream indicator is the need to protect an exposed building. Often when a building becomes heavily involved, adjoining buildings that are close can quickly become threatened. This situation should prompt the engine officer to order an exterior stream to, first, save the exposed building and, second, knock down and extinguish the original fire building. And yes, the same options are available for this situation, so you can stretch a 2½-inch handline or use the engine-mounted deck pipe. Obviously, an elevated master stream could be used as well, but initially, the 2½ or deck pipe will get fast water on the fire.
If a handline is being used to protect an exposure from a fully involved building, it should be a 2½-inch line. The reason, of course, is that after operating on the exposed structure, the gpm and reach of the 2½-inch line is still required. If, however, a handline is being used to protect an exposure that is being threatened by fire from a single window of a closely positioned building, a 1¾-inch line may be used momentarily to protect the exposed building, and then it can be rapidly repositioned and stretched into the original building more rapidly than a 2½-inch line.
Let’s talk for a moment about some of the details of operating the 2½-inch exterior stream. When you pull a 2½-inch line for exterior use or exposure protection, you must as always consider where this line may be needed—not just the immediate use that you have already recognized, but where might this stream be needed if the fire extends. One of the greatest advantages of the 2½-inch line that it is very flexible and adjustable. The deck pipe on the other hand is not so flexible. The important element in using a deck pipe effectively is proper positioning. If the pipe is not removable, the location of the stream will be dictated by the location of the apparatus. So remember, if there is even a chance of using the deck pipe at a fire, position the engine at the best location for its use. Stopping the apparatus just a few feet farther (forward or back) than needed can limit the horizontal and vertical range of the stream or even render it unusable.
Exterior streams, whether handline or master streams, use lots of water. So numerous calls coming in for a fire or a visible column of smoke should prompt you to lay a supply line into the location of the alarm. Regardless of the conditions encountered on scene—fully involved buildings or exposures being threatened—exterior streams cannot be used effectively or for very long without a reliable and continuous water supply.
The use of exterior streams is not rocket science, but following these few tips should make your next exterior stream operation more effective and professional.
John J. Salka Jr. | Battalion Chief
JOHN J. SALKA JR., who is a Firehouse contributing editor, retired as a battalion chief with FDNY, serving as commander of the 18th battalion in the Bronx. Salka has instructed at several FDNY training programs, including the department’s Probationary Firefighters School, Captains Management Program and Battalion Chiefs Command Course. He conducts training programs at national and local conferences and has been recognized for his firefighter survival course, “Get Out Alive.” Salka co-authored the FDNY Engine Company Operations manual and wrote the book "First In, Last Out–Leadership Lessons From the New York Fire Department." He also operates Fire Command Training, which is a New York-based fire service training and consulting firm.
