BY BILLY WHITE AND FERGUS JOHNSON
Shortly after midnight, a frantic citizen calls 911, reporting heavy smoke coming from a neighbor’s apartment. Less than three minutes later, the first-due companies arrive at the incident site. The engine crew stretches the appropriate handline and enters the fire compartment. The backup firefighter flakes hose, chases kinks, and assists the nozzle firefighter in advancing the hoseline through the cluttered apartment. Meanwhile, the inside team from the first-due truck company performs a primary search, locating and removing an unconscious victim.
Teamwork is the cornerstone of the fire service. In this scenario, all firefighters on scene played an important role in a successful rescue. Working the nozzle or performing the search may be more exciting than catching a hydrant or chasing kinks, but the scenario discussed above would not have had such a successful outcome had all firefighters on the fireground not properly performed their tasks. One often overlooked, yet vital, position is that of the backup firefighter.
The backup firefighter position can be the most demanding, disciplined, and selfless position on the fireground. The backup firefighter, often far from the intense drama taking place at the nozzle, may feel unappreciated, but his actions will make or break the firefighting operation.
This article illustrates the need for and the responsibilities of the backup firefighter based on the needs of our agency, a fairly large urban fire department with a diverse makeup and a 160-year history. Every community has its own fire risks and unique community makeup; no two departments operate the same way, but we hope that some of the techniques we have learned over the years will prove helpful to you.
Over the years, the Sacramento (CA) Fire Department has tried many approaches to meet the challenges on the fireground. We have found that designating riding positions on engine, truck, and rescue companies works well for us. For example, a typical engine company has a driver (engineer), a captain, a nozzle firefighter, and a backup firefighter. On many occasions, the backup firefighter has been the determining factor in a positive outcome.
In today’s fire service, the four-person engine company is becoming a rarity. Three-, two-, and even one-person engine companies are not unheard of. However, the duties of the backup firefighter cannot be ignored because there is no fourth member. Chasing kinks, hydrant duties, forcible entry, ensuring the hosebed is cleared, and feeding hose must be performed if a timely aggressive interior attack is expected to take place. In many cases, if there is no fourth member on the engine company, these jobs will have to be performed by the company officer or a firefighter from another company. Note that in a four- (or less) firefighter company, the backup firefighter will often have to assume the responsibilities of the “door” firefighter. This article assumes that the backup firefighter performs this position’s function.
As firefighters, we are charged with protecting the lives and property of the citizens within our communities. We are often called on to meet this duty at the high-risk, high-frequency event central to our mission: the residential structure fire. These fires require a fast and aggressive fire attack, and a well-trained and disciplined backup firefighter will have a monumental effect on the outcome. The backup firefighter who meets forcible entry challenges if no truck is on scene, assists with the hose stretch, and chases kinks will make a rapid stretch to the seat of the fire possible. The undisciplined backup firefighter who has abandoned his post and crowds the nozzle is only making matters worse.
THE BACKUP FIREFIGHTER’S DUTIES
The backup firefighter is responsible for a wide range of duties. His primary duty is assisting with the advancement of the hoseline. It has been said that the fire goes as the first line goes, and experience has shown this maxim to hold true. A kink in the line 50 feet behind the nozzle firefighter will negatively impact the firefighting operation. A nozzle firefighter struggling to pull more hose as he flows water will not advance very quickly. It is the backup firefighter’s duty to ensure that these types of events do not occur.
Other duties include hydrant operations and, when no truck is yet on scene, forcible entry and search (typically a primary search off the hoseline). Properly performing these duties is vital to a fast, aggressive interior fire attack. A nozzle firefighter with a motivated backup firefighter will advance far faster than a lone firefighter dragging a hoseline through a house without assistance.
You may be wondering where the company officer is during all this. There are many valid opinions on this matter. We have found that having the officer position himself right behind the nozzle firefighter works best for us. In this position, the company officer can direct the fire attack and provide “close backup” to the nozzleman. By holding the hoseline behind the nozzleman and reducing the nozzle pressure, the company officer will allow the nozzleman to work the nozzle faster. In extreme cases, the hose stretch may make several turns. In these instances, the company officer may have to hang back and cover a corner. Once the bulk of the fire has been knocked down, the backup firefighter may bump up and take the officer’s spot behind the nozzle firefighter, allowing the officer more freedom to use the thermal imaging camera to check for extension.
An effective backup firefighter will carry at a minimum a set of irons, a hook, and a radio. Leaving the rig without a tool is a cardinal sin, and a backup firefighter who enters the structure without a tool is really nothing more than a very expensive doorstop.
Many departments “marry” their irons by using a strap. Another option is to file notches in the ax where the fork of the halligan meets the ax head. This allows the irons to hold together without the need for a strap (photos 1, 2). The six-foot “Z” hook is not only a valuable forcible entry tool, but it can also be used to monitor fire conditions behind the nozzle team. In most cases, the backup firefighter will leave the irons at the front door but bring the hook with him so that he can pull ceiling to monitor overhead fire conditions. A portable radio enables the backup firefighter to communicate with the nozzle team.
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| (1) Note the notches filed in the flathead ax. (Photos by Captain Derek Parker unless otherwise noted.) |
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| (2) The notches enable the fork of the halligan to grab the ax head. This is enough to marry the irons without the need for a strap. The irons can be carried in this fashion until needed. To break the irons, simply drop the tools or bang the head of the ax on the ground. |
At times, the engine crew members will find themselves without a truck company during the initial phases of the fire attack. In this situation, the backup firefighter will be responsible for forcible entry and may have to perform the primary search. Many recruit academies teach two-person forcible entry techniques, but short-staffed companies are common in today’s fire service. The backup firefighter may find himself alone when forcing a door. Knowing single-person forcible entry techniques will be beneficial in such a situation. Many of these techniques exist.
Single-Person Forcible Entry Techniques
Following are some techniques for one-person forcible entry that we have found to work well.
• Inward-opening door. The firefighter holding a halligan can use the “baseball bat swing” to sink the pick into the door frame near the door handle and then force the door by placing pressure on the adz. Another option is to use the six-foot hook to force the adz into the doorjamb (photo 3). Another technique that can often be used on wooden residential doors is to use the married irons as a battering ram to force the door open. Even if this technique does not successfully open the door, it will cause a small gap, easing placement of the halligan forks. Kicking the door is not recommended, as there may be a large item on the other side, resulting in an injured ankle or back. We’ve all kicked a door at some point in our careers, but injuries have resulted from this technique. An injured firefighter isn’t of much use to his crew.
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| (3) Using the six-foot hook to force the adz into the doorjamb. The firefighter stands on the hook end and “punches” the handle forward to drive in the adz. |
Stretching A Dry Hoseline
Once the door has been opened and the nozzle team has begun its advance to the seat of the fire, the backup firefighter’s job really begins. Stretching a dry hoseline is usually a one-person operation, but it is worthwhile for the backup firefighter to take a second to ensure that the hosebed is clear before proceeding to chase kinks. The backup firefighter should also ensure that the hoseline will not get caught on anything once the hose begins moving forward. Check for hoselines under car tires or coming under the hinge side of outward opening doors (photo 4). These are notorious hose traps.
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| (4) An improperly monitored hoseline becomes hopelessly wedged under the door, causing a loss of flow, a halt in advancement, and restricted movement of the door. |
In many cases, the front yard of the fire occupancy will be cluttered with junk. This can increase the difficulty of properly flaking the attack line. Ensure that the hose will not get hung up on anything, and anticipate where the outside team from the truck will be placing the ladder. Vertical ventilation will be hindered if the hoseline becomes caught on the beam of a ladder before it is advanced.
Before proceeding past a door, the backup firefighter should ensure that the door will not close behind him. Many firefighters find that simple wood chocks work well. However, wedges can be accidentally knocked loose. Ensure that if a wedge is used, it is not placed in a spot where a passing firefighter may bump it loose (placing the chock just above the lowest hinge works well). Another option is to use the halligan bar to remove the door from the top hinges. This will cause the door to stay open, but the door can still be closed if conditions warrant.
As the nozzle firefighter enters the structure, the backup firefighter will be at the doorway, feeding hose into the building (photo 5). At this point, communication and discipline become critical. By feeling for water moving through the hoseline, the backup firefighter will know when the fire attack has started. Although this is helpful information, it does not necessarily relieve the backup firefighter of his duty to advance. Knowing how much hoseline the nozzle team needs can be vital. Too little hose will delay getting water on the fire. Too much hose will cause the nozzle firefighter to be swamped with excess hose. By making an “S” pattern with the hose and waiting for the “S” to straighten out before pushing more hose, you can monitor the amount of hose the nozzle team needs (photos 6, 7). The backup firefighter should ensure that there is always a bend in the line in front of him so he can tell when the line is advancing. Of course, this tactic becomes more difficult in low-visibility environments, but it is possible with practice.
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| (5) The backup firefighter assists the nozzle firefighter with the initial stretch. (Photo by Tom Parker.) |
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| (6-7) By making an S-pattern on the floor, the backup firefighter can monitor how much hose the nozzle firefighter needs. |
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Proper communication with the company officer is necessary for the backup firefighter to know when to “bump up” to the next corner. Once at the corner, the backup firefighter will make sure that the hoseline is between him and the corner. This will ensure that the backup firefighter does not become inadvertently pinned between the hoseline and the wall (photos 8, 9). Discipline here cannot be stressed enough. As the nozzle team attacks the fire, the backup firefighter must focus on ensuring that the nozzle team has all the hose it needs and resist the temptation to crowd the nozzle.
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| (8, 9) When the backup firefighter finds himself pinned between the hoseline and the corner, his effectiveness rapidly decreases. By placing the hoseline between himself and the corner, he can see in both directions and more effectively push hose. |
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The backup firefighter now finds himself inside the structure, covering a corner, and feeding hose to the nozzle team as necessary. Again, the company officer is directing the fire attack and providing “close backup” to the nozzle firefighter as water is applied to the seat of the fire. The backup firefighter must monitor conditions. If the backup firefighter notices that conditions are deteriorating or that the environment is rapidly getting hotter, he may suspect that the fire has entered the attic space. The backup firefighter will use his hook to open the ceiling and check for conditions. If he finds fire, the backup firefighter must notify the company officer immediately. The backup firefighter must also be alert to rooms reigniting behind the hose team and wrap-around conditions that may cause the fire to come up behind the nozzle team.
Again, an undisciplined backup firefighter will be more of a hindrance than a help. Many firefighters feel that the entire fire service revolves around the nozzle, and the desire to be behind the nozzle during an interior fire attack can be strong. The undisciplined backup firefighter rushing to join the nozzle team is only causing a more sluggish and less effective fire attack. Catching a hydrant, clearing a hosebed, and humping hose rank lower on the “fun scale” than working the nozzle, but these tasks are no less important.
SCENARIO
The first-in engine company is responding to a residential fire. As the engine approaches the scene, the captain determines that a “dry” lead hoseline is in order. The backup firefighter wraps the hydrant and jumps back in the engine. Had the captain determined that the engine needed to secure its own water supply (a “wet” lead), the backup firefighter would have remained at the hydrant until the engineer was ready for water.
On the final approach to the scene, everyone does his own size-up. The captain gives his size-up over the radio while the nozzle firefighter determines which line to pull and where to take it and the backup firefighter considers forcible entry options. Every member will look for bars on windows, exposures, smoke and fire conditions, entry and egress points, possible locations of victims, and other hazards. The engineer pulls the engine just past the fire occupancy, leaving room for the truck company. The crew finds that the front yard of the fire occupancy is full of junked cars. The nozzle firefighter pulls a preconnect as the backup firefighter helps to flake the line around the vehicles littering the yard (photo 10).
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(10) By becoming familiar with your district, you will be better able to anticipate the kind of challenges that may await you. Here, first-in companies were met with a fence, a gate, cars, debris, and heavy fire. It is the backup firefighter’s job to ensure that the hoseline does not become entangled in any of these obstacles. (Photo by Tom Parker.) |
The truck company is not yet on scene, so the backup firefighter quickly forces the door before stepping aside to allow the nozzle firefighter and captain to enter. Remaining at the front door, the backup firefighter feeds hose to allow the nozzle to move more quickly. Moments later, the backup firefighter “bumps up” and covers the corner at the end of the main hallway to ensure that the hoseline keeps moving. Minutes later, the fire is extinguished, and the backup firefighter assists his crew with overhaul.
THE “BACKUP DRILL”
As a backup firefighter, it is not enough to know the tasks for which you are responsible. You must be proficient at them. This is where training comes in. If you train as a company, you will realize the full benefit of having a backup firefighter. We commonly run probationary firefighters through a “backup drill.” This drill involves taking an engine company to a drill tower or parking structure and having the newer firefighter stretch a handline alone. The firefighter will be in full personal protective equipment and on air and must stretch around obstacles, through a door, up some stairs, and down a hallway. The more corners the firefighter has to negotiate, the better the training.
The new firefighter will learn firsthand how difficult, cumbersome, and physically exhausting such an evolution can be. Most probationary firefighters do not complete the drill without running out of air; this is often an eye-opening event. After performing the task alone, the new firefighter performs the drill again, this time with a backup firefighter.
Probationary firefighters are amazed at how much faster and easier the stretch is with the addition of a backup firefighter. Allowing the newer firefighter to experience the benefit of a disciplined backup firefighter really drives the point home. This training scenario shows the newer (and older) firefighters the importance of the backup position, as well as the challenges faced when attempting to communicate between the nozzle team and the backup firefighter.
Some common mistakes observed during this backup drill include failing to completely clear the hosebed; flaking the hose on the hinge side of the door (causing the hose to become caught under the door as it is advanced); and failing to bring enough hoseline into the structure before bumping up, forcing the firefighter to go back outside for more hose. Another mistake often seen during this drill is the backup firefighter’s pushing too much hose to the nozzleman. This is usually caused by a lack of communication or a lack of patience.
Another lesson probationary firefighters learn from this drill is that you must be in shape to perform this job. You cannot expect to perform these duties in a timely fashion if you are not working out regularly.
Like many firehouses across the country, we train virtually every shift. We have found a direct correlation between realistic training and aggressive and efficient firefighting. By having a crew stretch hoselines in a realistic fashion, lessons and techniques learned from tabletop drills and articles are reinforced, and the benefits are realized on the fireground.
There is a difference in opinion about whether senior or junior firefighters should be in the backup position. We believe that all firefighters should be proficient in both the nozzle and backup positions. There is a great benefit in rotating firefighters between the two positions to ensure that all firefighters are up to speed. Some may dismiss much of what has been written here because their current staffing levels do not allow for a fourth firefighter. Regardless of staffing levels, the core missions of the fire service (life safety and property conservation) must be met, and the tasks assigned to the backup firefighter still need to be performed.
BILLY WHITE is a 24-year veteran of the fire service and a captain with the Sacramento (CA) Fire Department, where he is assigned to Engine 20 in the North Sacramento district. He is a rescue team manager with CA-TF7 of the FEMA USAR program.
FERGUS JOHNSON is a 14-year veteran of the fire service and a firefighter with the Sacramento (CA) Fire Department, where he is assigned to Truck 2 in the downtown business district. He is a rescue specialist with CA-TF7 of the FEMA USAR program. He has a B.S. in fire science from the University of Cincinnati and a juris doctor from the Lincoln Law School of Sacramento.
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