Hooks & Hoses

The Hook & Ladder Company...
Hook & Ladders? We know the Ladders..But where did the term "hooks" come from? Most of today's firefighters seem to think it was from our hand tools carried on the apparatus but here is a unique story I came across that may explain the term from the early years of firefighting. Fact or Fiction? Does anyone have any other Fire Lore they can share or substantiate this?
"Hooks and chains. How could you possibly use hooks and chains to put out a fire? First we need to understand something about fire. In the study of fire, the fire triangle is used to explain the theory. A triangle has three equal sides, one side represents fuel, one side oxygen and the third heat. If any one side is removed, fire can not continue. The hooks and chains were used to remove fuel. If a fire was spreading beyond control, buildings or other fuel in its path were pulled down to stop the spread. This is much the same as the plow used in forest fires to plow under grass and other fuel in the path of the fire. When the fire has consumed the fuel in its path, it goes out.
This looked like a drastic measure to tear down some ones home to stop a fire. This method was accepted by everyone of this day for they were willing to make this type of sacrifice for the good of their neighbors. In the same spirit they banned together to help rebuild after the fire. The hooks were attached to the end of the chains and were much like the grappling hooks of modern day. The power needed to pull down the house was either man power or horse power. The hooks and chains were carried on the ladder wagon and this is where we get the term hook and ladder wagon which is still used by some people today even though hooks and chains are no longer a part of the equipment. Explosives for blowing up buildings in the path of a fire were also a part of the equipment of some departments. Early laws gave the fire chief this authority."
Source: http://legeros.com/history/ebf/

Superlative work Houston Fire!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg9PWSHL4Vg =13

Cool idea!

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Flow Path Management I offer Advanced Fire Dynamics and Fire Officer and Chief Officer Development Training for existing

Good discussion on Flow Paths.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fireengineeringtalkradio/2014/02/14/episode-717-research-to-tactics #.Uv0rcrVE7I0.twitter

Episode 717: Research to Tactics This radio show will discuss all of the research conducted with the fire service by the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute. Guests from fire departments that have served on the technical panels of the research will share their perspectives and how they have incorporated the results into their…

http://www.jrn.com/nbc26/news/New-fire-fighting-techniques-for-Green-Bay-245601281.html?lc=Smart

New fire fighting techniques for Green Bay GREEN BAY, WI -- It's one of the biggest changes for the Green Bay Metro Fire Department in decades. They're changing the way they fight fires to give those trapped a better chance at survival.

Do you have a Fire Simulator or a Fire Laboratory? Do your instructors show you a variety of ways flashovers occur, nozzle applications, gas behaviors? Or do you just sit and stare...

It is time to reset the tactical model on Fire Attack to reflect modern fire behavior.

2014 Kill The Flashover Bullet Points:

Don't Delay Water
Identify the Flow Path and Control It
Understanding Gas Cooling Benefits & Variables
Risk a lot to save a life, risk nothing to save a building
Implement the Go..No Go... The 5 Step Process
Every Action has at least one Reaction
Train, Demonstrate, Decide, Share
Avoid Checklist Firefighting
Make decisions based upon critical thinking
Physical Sense vs. Technology Sense
Making the Big Box Smaller
Reduce The Risk
Challenge what you believe to be factual
Control The Door to Control the Environment
Tactically Sound/ Tactical Patience
Challenge Your Knowledge Base
It's Okay to Put Water on Smoke
RECEO or SLICERS (rescue is not search)

Yet another example of how wind driven structural fires can overwhelm a bread and butter fire attack.