In Episode 14 of our Tactical Considerations video series, UL's Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) Advisory Board Member, New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Captain, John Ceriello explains why the door closest to the apparatus should not dictate line placement.
This video also features an experiment conducted with the Milwaukee Fire Department during the exterior fire spread and attic fire project. In these types of houses, which are common in Milwaukee, MFD will stretch to the B or D side door at the C side because it directly accesses the stair to all 3 floors of the house. The front door provides access to the first floor but would make for a difficult stretch to the second floor or basement.
More often than not, the first line stretched on the fire goes through the front door. More often than not, that is where the first line stretched should go. But why? If we don’t understand the “why” behind the rule, then we will never know when to make exceptions to it. The reason for using the front door as your default entry into the building has to do with the interior layout, NOT with the door’s relation to the street. Discuss the why of line placement with your crews and when it should and should not go to the door closest to the apparatus.
For more on this consideration, check out the following project pages featuring online trainings, reports and other related resources:
Residential Attic Fire Mitigation Tactics and Exterior Fire Spread Hazards on Firefighter Safety
The Governors Island Experiments
