PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER’S MANUAL - New York City

FDNY Probationary Firefighters Manual
Chapter Eleven ENGINE COMPANY TOOLS & APPLIANCES

4.5.5 A spotter should be in place to observe the operation from the exterior. This
member must take a position to clearly observe and monitor the conditions in the
fire apartment before, during and after high rise nozzle deployment. Equipped
with a handi-talkie on the appropriate frequency and a pair of binoculars, this
spotter will provide direction and progress reports to the IC and members
operating. The spotter will be in the best position to monitor the effects of the
high rise nozzle.

4.5.6 Putting the nozzle into operation will require the services of two engine
companies equipped with roll-ups, standpipe kits, forcible entry tools including a
rabbit tool and the high rise nozzle.

4.5.7 Depending on the situation, the 2 1/2” hoseline supplying the high rise nozzle
may have to be stretched from three floors below the fire. Company officers
assigned to place the high rise nozzle into operation must consider this to
coordinate and ensure a rapid and efficient deployment of this tool. The
appropriate number of rolled up lengths of 2 1/2” hose must be brought to the area
of deployment.

4.5.8 Companies will have to gain access to the apartment below the fire apartment and
determine which window the high rise nozzle will be operated from. Forcible
entry may be required and members must have appropriate tools.

4.5.9 Once the proper window is chosen and opened, impediments such as window bars,
child gates, will have to be removed. In most cases it is not necessary to remove
the window to operate the nozzle. Some thermal pane windows are easily removed
via clips on the top of the sash.

4.5.10 The supply line must be attached to the high rise nozzle before the nozzle is slid
out on the window sill for use. Firefighters operating the high rise nozzle will
use the T-handle to properly position the nozzle for optimum stream placement.
The T-handle will allow the firefighters to move the nozzle along the window
sill and maintain control.

4.5.11 The officer supervising high rise nozzle use will initiate and maintain hand-talkie
contact with the spotter to make sure the nozzle is being operated effectively and
the stream is knocking down the fire.

4.5.12 The key to the rapid extinguishment of a wind-driven fire is putting water directly
on the seat of the fire. If multiple rooms are involved, it will be necessary to
reposition the nozzle to ensure complete knockdown of the fire. If this is the
situation, start with the window that the wind is blowing into and extinguish the
fire in this room first. Then move to the other windows downwind of the original
fire room and complete knockdown of the fire.

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FDNY Probationary Firefighters Manual
Chapter Eleven ENGINE COMPANY TOOLS & APPLIANCES

4.5.13 If a wind-driven fire has control of several rooms, it will be necessary to move
the high rise nozzle from a window in one room to another window in a separate
room to achieve knock down of the fire. If this is the situation, company officers
must anticipate and make sure the next window(s) that will be used for operation
of the nozzle is cleared of window gates, bars etc., this will speed up the
repositioning.

4.5.14 A shut-off shall be placed in line one length back from the nozzle. When
repositioning of the High Rise Nozzle is required, the supply line should be shut
down at the shut-off located one length back and the nozzle opened to bleed the
line. This will make it easier to move the nozzle and supply line while
repositioning. Once in position, the officer supervising nozzle operations will
order water started. This officer will then notify the IC that the nozzle is in
position and ready to operate. The nozzle will not be operated until the IC has
given approval.

4.6 REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT

4.6.1 If repairs to the High Rise nozzle are required, the company officer shall contact
Technical Services Division via phone and request a replacement. The out of
service HRN shall be tagged with an RT-2 documenting the nature of the defect.

BY ORDER OF THE FIRE COMMISSIONER AND CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT

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