Date: July 17 and 18 (2-Day Class)
Class Time: 0800-1700
Location: Plainfield FPD (23748 W 135th St. Plainfield, IL 60544)
PPE: Full PPE & SCBA

This class is driven by the following quotes from two mentors and puts a highlight and purpose on stretching off rear hose beds with static hose loads and breaking the pre-connect mindset:

'The Fire Goes As the First Line Goes"
Lt. Andy Fredericks FDNY (KIA 9/11/01)
"I believe to this day, that an Engine Company Lives and Dies by it's stretches"
Kevin Shea FDNY (Ret.)

Today's smoke is deadlier and fires are reaching flashover faster than ever before. The number 1 priority of the hoseline is not extinguishment as many might think, it's to protect life! We must stretch to place our first line correctly between THEM and the fire and put water on the fire faster than ever. This is the expectation from our communities of the american fire service Engine Company, no matter where in the country, your staffing levels, rural, suburban or urban. We must get it right the first time, we must make the stretch, and we must make the push, NOT EXCUSES!

We will specifically showcase the simplicity and abilities of the 1.75" "Bulk Load" aka static or flat load and why this load is a life saver and fire killer for the long stretches, short stretches and everything in between ensuring we have the correct amount of working line to reach the seat of the fire.

This course gives you a solid base foundation with static hose loads. After this course, you will understand why so many fire departments are ditching preconnect’s to add this versatile and flexible hose load to their Engines.

The second aspect of the class focuses on how to flow water with Hit & Move techniques and how to make a "Push" (flowing water while advancing) techniques, which is the most effective way to advance through a fire area.

We won't just be stretching and flowing in open parking lots, we will stretch and flow through many real world fireground obstacles and challenges with evolutions that are designed to give you the confidence to leave and go back to your department and make the stretch, make the push, NOT Excuses, no matter your hose load and then hopefully help you lead the charge to change the preconnected mindset and priority of the first line in your organization.

Topics & Skills

• How to load the "Bulk Load" with tips and tricks learned from experience

• Simple & Complex stretches (dictates # of FF's required and their jobs)

• Spotting the Engine for the stretch- stopping short, pulling past, attack angles

• Priorities of hoseline placement

• Dealing with known / visible victims

• Locating the fire and determining the correct route for the first line

• Estimating the stretch

• How to stretch through realistic terrain and obstacles - tight streets, cars,

  driveways, courtyards, through gates, hallways, normal living conditions and

  fireground operations

• Vertical stretches- up stairs, coupling drops / rope stretches

• Nozzle handling- Hit & Move and Push (flowing while advancing) techniques

• Stairs- Hit & Move and Push (flowing while advancing) up and down stairs

• Fire room operations: including hydraulic ventilation and primary search

• Searching while advancing the line

• Trouble shooting / overcoming hazards such as dropped bundles, excess hose,

  short on hose, water / pressure issues

• Mask up skills

• Dirty drags