BY DOUG LEIHBACHER
During the initial moments of a fire re-sponse, the engine company officer must make several speedy decisions that will have a significant effect on the outcome of the firefighting effort. Beginning with the receipt of the alarm, the officer must anticipate the approach patterns of the other responding engines and ladders and decide from which direction to respond into the scene, taking into consideration speed of response and apparatus placement. Next, he must decide which hydrant to select and whether a stretch is warranted. If a stretch from the hydrant is necessary, the apparatus must be positioned where it will be out of the collapse zone and will not interfere with ladder company placement. Once all this is taken care of, it is time to make the most important decision of all: which hoseline to stretch to the fire.
Selecting the right hoseline for the job is a pivotal determining factor in the outcome of the fire, and the decision must be made in a split second. If the right line is called for, the stretch will go smoothly, and the extinguishment process will begin in a timely manner. If the wrong line is selected, the extinguishment process will be delayed, the fire may get away, and all other firefighters and civilians in the building will be in greater peril. Luckily, the question of which line to stretch is multiple choice. It is either
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