I am a 35-year veteran of the fire service and a 22-year driver/operator of multiple makes of fire apparatus, including E-ONE, Pierce, Rosenbauer and Seagrave.
Over the years, I have seen countless house fires where driver/operators became frantic about finding a hydrant or water source. In most cases, all that really was needed was to use the tank water that they already had.
The first priority on any house fire should be getting water to the firefighters at the end of the nozzle as quickly as possible. After all, tank water is the fastest and most reliable source. On most pumpers, the tank holds between 500–750 gallons, which is more than enough for a typical house fire, not to mention the additional advantage of water extinguishers.
Nevertheless, a hydrant or other water source is important, which is why a co-pilot—either the captain or the firefighter who’s in the cab, or backstepper—assists in identifying the nearest hydrant. This helps the driver/operator plan for water supply after the initial tank is deployed.
In my experience, some house fires were extinguished entirely via a relay operation without any hydrant source. In these cases, one pumper supplies another, to create a daisy chain effect of tank-to-tank water supplies.
Step 1
If my pumper is first on scene, I prioritize delivering tank water immediately. At the same time, I begin to stage tools, such as the irons (Halligan/axe combo) and the preconnect attack lines, near the front door. This allows the crew to enter and begin operations efficiently while the captain or backstepper conducts a 360-degree view of the structure, gathers information from the homeowner or bystanders, and prepares additional resources.
Step 2
Once tank water is flowing and in operation, I look (or listen) for the second-incoming pumper. Ideally, it should park within 50 feet of the attack pumper so that a 50-foot section of 3-inch supply line can connect from its discharge to my auxiliary intake. Every pumper should carry a rolled-up section of 3-inch supply hose near the driver side pump panel for this purpose. Be careful not to block ground ladder accesses on the respective apparatus. Look to see whether the attack pumper has a hydraulic ladder rack that’s positioned on the passenger side. Leaving room to park behind the rig without interfering with ground ladder access is a proactive tool that every driver/operator should possess and practice. Two pumpers supplying tank water simultaneously give a total of approximately 1,000 gallons of water.
Step 3
Situations might dictate variations, such as having the second pumper perform a reverse lay to a hydrant while supplying my pumper. In my department’s response district, hydrants are spaced about 600 feet apart on average, which provides ample distance for hand jacking (manually pulling hoselines to reach the hydrant) or for a third pumper to provide a forward or reverse lay to support the initial pumpers that already are on scene.
Step 4
Observing the house on arrival is critical. Lazy smoke from the eaves usually indicates a tank-water fire. In the driver/operator’s mind, this indicates that the firefighters who are inside will open and close the bale repeatedly. This provides the driver/operator with more time to complete other essential tasks. Flames that are visible from multiple windows, however, signal the need to secure additional water more quickly and indicate a fully open bale for the exterior quick hits (of the visible flames) that surely would happen.
Step 5
Being on the same page with the second or third pumper is vital, whether mutual aid or companies that are in your district. Years of experience help to establish familiarity; a glance between experienced driver/operators often communicates exactly what’s needed without verbal instruction.
Step 6
In relay operations, it’s crucial that the supplying pumper’s throttle is in RPM mode, not pressure mode. The attack pumper should remain in pressure mode, while the relay pumper maintains RPM mode to monitor pressure. Understanding the difference between RPM mode (maintains pressure) and pressure mode (maintains discharge pressure) is essential for all driver/operators.
Step 7
After the water supply is established—whether tank-to-tank, hydrant or both—driver/operators can focus on supporting the crew with tools and equipment. Imagining myself inside of the house helps me to think of the tools that I need to provide to my crew. Ventilation fans, attic ladders, pike poles, lights, water cans, roof ladders and gas monitors, among others, should be positioned for quick access. This approach ensures that the crew has what it needs right away to operate effectively.
Lazy smoke vs. visible flames
First-in driver/operators should position themselves in front of the house fire, leaving room for ladder trucks when possible. However, if you see power lines in front of the house, the ladder trucks can’t safely deploy their aerials, so it’s acceptable to position the attack pumper in front of the house. Tank water is the first priority, followed by staging tools near the Alpha side front door. Once water is flowing, seek the second pumper’s tank supply and then a hydrant. Lazy smoke showing generally indicates a tank-water fire and more time, while visible flames from multiple windows indicate a fully open bale fire and the need for additional water more quickly.
