A lively debate on fireground tactics erupted on the show floor as two experienced fire officers squared off in a moderated panel session at Firehouse World 2016 on Tuesday afternoon.
The debate focused on whether the “hit it hard from the yard” tactic of fire suppression was effective or defective when it comes to saving life and property.
On the side of putting water through the window from the yard was Derek Alkonis, an assistant Los Angeles County Fire Department.
In the corner of the more traditional, through the front door and advancing to the seat of the fire was John Salka, retired FDNY battalion chief.
Firehouse Editor in Chief Tim Sendelbach moderated the session.
“If I am burning in a building, I want the water as soon as possible,” Alkonis said, making an analogy of holding one’s hand over a match. “Every second counts and you want to get out of that situation as quickly as possible.
That’s way he said the immediate, quick hit, cool down of a fire is an effective way of fighting fire.
Salka acknowledged that small rural departments that might actually arrive on the scene of a structure fire with only a couple of members. In that case, it makes perfect sense to advance a line to the window with fire blowing out of it to get a quick knock on the blaze.