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One of the problems with these devices is their tendency to kick back when the stream angle is lowered to only 15°-20°, which is necessary to provide reach and penetration when the ceiling height is only 8-9 ft high. What is needed is a secure means of anchoring the device against the nozzle reactio...

One of the problems with these devices is their tendency to kick back when the stream angle is lowered to only 15°-20°, which is necessary to provide reach and penetration when the ceiling height is only 8-9 ft high. What is needed is a secure means of anchoring the device against the nozzle reaction. Aside from having six very large engine firefighters throw themselves on the hoselines, there are a couple of possible choices. The first method uses two steel-handled Halligan hooks to span a door opening (fig. 18-32). (FDNY ladder companies bring Halligan hooks with them anyway, although the Halligans won't be used for pulling from a single standpipe riser and to verify the flows and pressures available using a variety of hose lays. All tests began with three lengths of hose, stretched from the standpipe outlet on the floor below the nozzle, following standard department policy. It was very evident that while a single 21½-in. line supplying a portable monitor delivers greater volume and reach than a 2½ in. handline, these devices are best supplied by two 21½-in. or larger lines. That means the second line will likely have to be stretched from the outlet two floors below the fire. In this test, that meant four lengths of hose. The advantage of using 2½-in. hose is quite clear. It permitted flows of up to 750 gpm to