New York Regional Firefighting Tactics — Episode 2: Garage Fire Attack in Westchester County
When a garage fire is growing, how do you prevent it from spreading to the house? In this episode of Fully Involved, we’re heading to Westchester County, New York, to learn their answers to two critical questions:
What ground monitor can help you attack the fire faster?
Smooth Bore vs. Fog — Is your nozzle choice the difference between control and chaos?
Location Profile: Westchester County, NY
Westchester County is a unique mix of urban density and suburban sprawl. From 100-story high-rises in nearby New York City to rural farmland, this region demands adaptable tactics.
WE’RE ON A MISSION TO CAPTURE REGIONAL OPINIONS
We’re showcasing the most debated firefighting tactics and the philosophies that drive each crew. Think your department has an aggressive fireground strategy to share?
Choosing the Right Ground Monitor for a Garage Fire
Scenario: A 2,000-square-foot suburban home with a garage fire spreading fast.
Option 1: Rated at 20-Degrees
Option 2: Rated at 10-Degrees
Lower attack angles are critical for directing water into a garage fire efficiently.
Most Popular BlitzFire Products
Which Nozzle Do We Go With? Smooth Bore or Fog?
The crew puts smooth bore and fog nozzles head-to-head to answer one of firefighting’s most debated questions.
“I like fog nozzles personally, but you don’t get the reach that you get with smooth bore. But for a situation like this, I don’t have to be dead on. Because I have that spread, I have those small droplets that are going to absorb all the heat, they’re going to convert to steam and they’re going to put that fire out. They’re going to at the very least knock it down while I’m getting ready to get make an interior push, wait for more crews to arrive so I can do that.”
— Chief Johnson
“I don’t think there’s one good answer for everybody.”
— Chief Johnson
What Are Your Thoughts?
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BlitzForce™
Quick & Compact Attack
Max-Force™
Dual-Pressure Automatic Nozzle
Smooth Bores
For Big Water
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Most garages in Florida are used as storage areas. In fact a lot of people are hoarders and the garage gets packed to the gills with boxes, mowers, gasoline, tools, Christmas supplies, and all the things from your last house that you don’t want to get rid of.
Plus with all this stuff, you may also get 1 car or a small boat in your garage.
You must have a smooth bore nozzle to reach every thing that’s burning because you can’t see and with all the boxes being hoarded, you can’t get to everything burning.
Smooth bore all the way in Florida!
Thanks for the regional insight, Alex! Super interesting. So you’re going smooth bore 100% – do you prefer a handline in that moment or a monitor, either ground or on the engine?
That first blitz nozzle isn’t made anymore? And dosnt have the s
Auto shut off protection. I had both. Yea , I remember when they first came out. As for the fire. , darken it down and make in interior attack, depending on a lot of factors maybe better to make sure it didnt extent to inside the building. So I am a fight it from the unbunt side to the burnt side. Especially after its knocked down. I like fogs also, they offer protection if needed. For this situation, while not needed for the initial attack, I like it better incase of flammable liquids propane tanks stored in the garage. A smooth boar isn’t protective. A fog can be. And since the situation dosent need reach and penatration, a smooth boar is better. Plus if you have a vehical of gas can it can melt or let loose and the driveway is usally angled out twords the street. A fog can mitigate that.
Thanks for your perspective! What kinds of building construction do you typically face in your response district?