BY BILL GUSTIN
"Stretching Hoselines to Upper Floors of Residential Buildings, Part 1" was published in the September 2003 issue.
Buildings with interior public hallways can make the first step in stretching a hoseline—locating the fire—difficult and sometimes dangerous. But locating the fire or fire apartment must be done before an engine company begins its stretch. This is vital to ensure that the line is stretched to the correct location and will reach the fire. Locating a fire can seem time-consuming to firefighters eager to do battle, but that time is nothing compared with the time wasted if a company stretches its line to the wrong location. All engine companies, but especially understaffed crews, must accurately locate the fire to "get it right" the first time. They do not have the time or personnel to play catch-up if they are wrong. Few tasks are more stressful for a fire officer than trying to locate the fire apartment at 3:00 a.m. with hallways filled with smoke, a fire alarm blasting, and residents shouting conflicting information.
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