I aways encourage my firefighting students to take the information that they receive and gather contextual clues so that they aren’t misguided or improperly led astray. Gaining context is necessary to prevent misinformation. However, I recently was reminded that my assumption that old information was irrelevant was wrong.

The story

At the book signing for “They Saved New York: The Men and Women of the FDNY,” I had the pleasure of meeting retired FDNY members Ed Pena and Billy Valenzano. These members were real characters of Dennis Smith’s “Report from Engine Co. 82.” I can’t even begin to imagine how many fires either of them saw.

Nearing the end of our conversation, I asked them whether there was any advice that they could give me, a young firefighter. “Stay off your knees, kid,” was their reply. “Always move on your feet.”

Lessons from the War Years

Pena and Valenzano went into detailed discussion of the many dangerous situations that floors can present in a structure fire. Hypodermic needles, garbage, wires, razors and human excrement can litter the floors of occupied and vacant structures. Further, hot burning coals and embers will be scattered across the floor once a hoseline advance is made, and heated chunks of lath and plaster will rain down from the walls and ceilings as the force from the water pressure knocks them free. These often-unseen dangers can be present particularly in rundown, urban America, with its aging building stock.

Being humble and realistic firefighters, Pena and Valenzano conceded that the days of long rubber jackets and hip boots are mostly nonexistent. There’s much more protection in modern-day turnout gear, and this old-school trick—staying off of your knees—might not be applicable. The turnout gear of today often has reinforced and cushioned knee pads that protect firefighters from many of these hazards.

Sort of dismayed, I left their presence thinking that this old-school trick was impractical. Little did I know that I should have followed their advice seven months later.

My lesson learned

I was teaching at a live burn in a two-story residential home. A fire evolution was started in the bedroom on the second floor. The contents of the room fire were merely four wooden pallets and a quarter-bale of hay. Nothing abnormal.

Because the attack crew that I had under my direction was composed of “seasoned” firefighters, I decided to allow them to stretch the hoseline dry up the stairs and to the landing that was below the fire. Visibility was good at the floor, and the nozzle firefighter could see every bedroom and easily visualize the fire room. The nozzle firefighter called for the hoseline to be charged, and he waited for water.

I turned around to ensure that the remainder of the hoseline was flaked properly by the backup firefighter. Within seconds, the nozzle firefighter bolted into the fire room with a dry hoseline. Fire conditions already were to the point of weakening the ceiling, and hot chunks of lath and plaster were on the floor near the doorway. I quickly darted into the fire room behind my student, in a kneeling position and was going to order him out of the room. Because visibility was good and the heat was tolerable, I decided to wait and let this be a learning experience. Moments later, the hoseline was charged with water, and nobody was injured or burned.

While I knelt on the floor, I began to feel my knee burning. I moved my knee to the side and saw that my turnout pants were pressed on burning lath. Now, my knee was in excruciating pain.

After the fire, I came out to find that embers had burned my turnout knee pads. Although I didn’t have any severe burns to my skin, I was rather upset that I wasn’t on my feet and that my pants were damaged. I immediately recalled the tip from Pena and Valenzano: “Stay off your knees, kid.”

Advancing with charged hoseline, sweeping the floor, duckwalking

In the hot wash following this burn, my students not only learned the importance of advancing with a charged hoseline before making a push but also to sweep the floor with the hoseline so that burning contents are cooled and pushed away from themselves. I learned the importance of duckwalking.

Because firefighters can’t be on their feet always, these old-school tips might be of great assistance:

• When not operating a hoseline, consider duckwalking if fire conditions and your body flexibility allow it. If fire conditions worsen, you might be able to move more quickly than if on your knees.
• When operating a hoseline, sweep the floor in front of you with a straight stream of water as you advance. By doing this, you move trash, embers and hot coals out of your way and provide a clear path of advance. You also cool hot items below their ignition temperature.
• Utilize the clamp-slide technique when moving with a hoseline. In this method, the hose is kept under your knee and prevents damage to your turnout pants. However, hot embers and coals might burn through your hose jacket if embers and coals aren’t cooled beforehand.