FIGHTING THE FIRE
Once you arrive on scene to fight the fire you should cool down the door entrance to the compartment or zone on fire. Once the entrance is cool, a backup man can step forward and, while standing outside the swing of the door, crack open the door and slip the 4-foot applicator into the opened door to continue cooling the back side of the door, It is important to stand outside the swing of the door due to the possibility of the door being blown open when fresh air enters into the compartment through the crack in the door.
Open the door fully while using a vertical sweeping motion with the attack nozzle on high velocity fog. This water action will keep the smoke and fire gases inside the compartment.
At this point the emergency squad officer can make a determination as to what type of attack should be made. If the compartment is small then an indirect attack can be mounted from the compartment entrance. Types of indirect attack are as follows:
1. Point attack nozzle into overhead and alternate between solid stream and high velocity fog for about 30 seconds; then close the compartment door. The water flashes to steam and smothers the compartment.
2. If the seat of the fire can be seen from the door, the nozzle man can use solid stream to hit the fire from the door without ever entering the compartment. This has the advantage of keeping the fire fighters out of the hot gases and smoke in the compartment.
If the compartment is very large then a direct attack must be mounted; the procedure is for the hose men to enter the compartment while staying low to the deck. Do not spray water into the overhead or attempt to cool down bulkheads while making the approach to the seat of the fire. To do this will cause steam to be generated and cause the thermal boundary to be brought to the deck level, making it impossible for the fire fighters to stay in the compartment. It might be best to keep the attack nozzle shut off during the approach if this is possible. Use only the backup nozzle and applicator for a heat shield and cooling. Once within range of the seat of the fire, apply water vigorously at the seat of the fire until the fire is extinguished. Use only the amount of water necessary to do the job. Remember, you are fighting a fire in a ship and any water you put into the ship must be taken out.
At this point the officer in charge should arrange for bilge suction to be started on the compartment. If this is not possible some form of portable bilge suction should be set up. Drainage from the compartment on fire should be established downward to the bilge or lowest point in the section of the ship being dealt with. Keep in mind that two 11/2-inch fire hoses under 100 psi will discharge one ton of water per minute into the ship. If this rate of flow is allowed to go on long enough without attention, the ship will either capsize or sink.
