Are fog nozzles not the answer?
Remember Chief Layman’s fundamental principle.
The control and extinguishment of interior fires must be based upon the principle of removing excessive heat from the involved building.
Is there any wonder that Chief Layman spoke of the “gross inefficiency” of the solid stream form of application.
Keeping in mind Layman’s statement of principle, the answer to fire fighting problems is not to return to the grossly inefficient form of application. That would just create more danger for fire fighters, and with the excessive flow rate recommended, simply compound the problem of using too much water thereby causing massive thermal imbalance problems.
Use these nozzles properly and you will find that fire fighting is very simple indeed. The only satisfactory answer is the proper use of fog nozzles. It is easy enough to learn how to do this. You must reduce your flow rates below 100 gpm for your smaller fires. The fog nozzles most suited for this are the TFT automatic nozzles with 6 detent stops, or the non automatic nozzles with the manual volume control rings. Use these nozzles properly and you will find that fire fighting is very simple indeed.
In reality, the two sides are not that far apart in this continuing debate that Fredericks talks about. Remember Bill Nelson’s statement
Certain stubborn individuals continued to point out that straight streams used properly were just as effective as fog and usually did not cause thermal imbalance problems.
Certainly Nelson and Royer count themselves among “those stubborn individuals”.
If Fredericks would abandon his extreme position, his insistence of only one method of attack suitable for all fires So there is really no disagreement on the proper use of straight streams. Also remember that a combination attack is a direct attack on a fire. as well as an indirect attack on a fire. So there should be no disagreement here as far as making a direct attack is concerned. If Fredericks would abandon his extreme position, his insistence of only one method of attack suitable for all fires, then both sides could come together and unite behind the principle that
There is no magic pill.
All type of nozzles, and all methods of attack have their proper place in the arsenal of weapons of fire combat. This is the principle upon which we should all be able to agree.
