The following items represent an index of the tactical effectiveness of hose lines:

     Size
     Placement
     Speed
     Mobility
     Supply

These factors also represent the options involved in fire stream management.

Hose lines should be advanced inside fire buildings in order to control access to halls, stairways, or other vertical and horizontal
channels through which people and fire may travel.

Basic hose lines placement:

     The fire stream is placed between the fire and persons endangered by it.
     When no life is endangered, the first stream is placed between the fire and the most severe exposure.
     Second line is taken to secondary means of egress (always bear in mind the presence of men opposite the second lines.)
     Succeeding lines to cover other critical areas.
     Whenever possible, position hose lines in a manner and direction that assists rescue activities, supports confinement, and
     protects exposures.
     Back-up lines should be deployed as needed.

Hose line judgements generally involve the trade-off of time versus pure tactical placement; if a tactical placement principle is
violated, back-up action must be taken.

Use the size of hose line that will eventually be required from the beginning; if you need a big line provide it from the outset. If there is
any doubt from the beginning go to the next size hose line. When you make a decision on what size fire stream to apply, select the
size that is actually required. Beware of automatically going for the size you use most often; or the size that is fastest/easiest-we
tend to rely on one size of fire stream.

When you change commitment from offensive to defensive and pull hand lines out of the fire building, do not continue to operate them
as handlines - convert them to exterior master streams. Give priority to water supply and application. The operating

Positions of such streams must also be evaluated - do not continue to operate into burned property.

Fire control forces must consider the characteristics of the fire streams:

     Solid stream: more penetration, reach and striking power less steam conversion.
     Fog: more gross heat absorption/expansion, less reach.
     1 & 1/2" lines: fast, mobile, low volume.
     1 & 3/4" lines: fast, mobile, larger volume capable.
     2 & 1/2" lines: big water, big knockdown, slow/immobile.
     Master streams: mostly stationary, slow to set up, maximum water.

Choose the proper nozzle and stream for the task .

Offensive attack activities must be highly mobile - as their movement slows down, the necessarily become more defensive in nature
and affect.

Offensive attack positions should achieve an affect on the fire quickly-consequently, back-up judgements should also be developed
quickly. If you apply water to an offensive attack position and the fire does not go out - react; back it up or move on. Beware of hose
lines that have been operated in the same place for long periods. Fire conditions change during the course of fire operations (most
things will only burn for a limited time) and the affect of hose lines operation must be continually evaluated. If the operation of such
lines becomes ineffective, move, adjust, or redeploy them.

Beware of the limitations of operating nozzles through holes. The mobility of such streams is necessarily limited and it is generally
difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of such streams. Sometimes you must breach walls, floors, etc., to operate - realize the
limitations of such situations.

Consider that hose lines pump as much air as they pump water (particularly fog streams). Think of them as fans when making line
placement judgements and use the fan characteristics in a manner that provides for confinement and reduces loss. When entering
basement fire(s), do not open nozzles until you can see and are near the fire, if you commit crews to inside operations, do not
operate exterior streams into the same building. Do not combine interior and exterior attacks in the same building. It may be
necessary to coordinate pulling crews out of the building while an exterior heavy stream knockdown is made. Know when to shut
down nozzles - many times continuing operations of large streams prevents entry and complete extinguishment.

Do not operate fire streams into smoke - fire location must be determined before water can be effectively applied. If you use an
exterior stream, use a big one. Straight bore tips provide better penetration for heavy streams.

Hand line companies should not engage in laying any more hose than they require to operate their own lines except for standard
multiple line evolutions.

The more pumped water, the higher the overall attack capability. Have attack lines ready during forcible entry operations. Attack
crews should be fully protected and supervised before forcible entry is effected.

Company officers must assume responsibility for the effectiveness of their fire streams. Such officers must maintain an awareness of
where fire streams are going and their affect and report the general operational characteristics back to command. Do not apply water
to the outside of a roof and think you are extinguishing the fire . Such water application may offer effective exposure protection; but, if
part of the roof is intact, it will shed water just like it was built to do and will prevent water from reaching the seat of the fire. This is
particularly true of ladder pipe operations. Do not operate fire streams down ventilation holes hurting offensive operations .