THE CELLAR NOZZLE
$1.25
Vol XCIII, No. 311
Monday, April 19, 2020
Hose Clamp: Set in position to clamp the hose 8 ft back from the hole, since no other way to control water flow in this application.
The Set-Up
Purpose
Tools/Additional Items/Placement
Cellar nozzle is a heavy duty appliance used primarily on large stubborn fires in areas that cannot safely be entered, but can be worked on from above.
- Commercial buildings
- Commercial basements
- Mercantile or manufacturing buildings where streams cannot penetrate to the seat of the fire from the outside, and is deemed not safe to enter
- Cellar nozzle (2 1/2 inch)
- Cutting Tools (ax, rescue saw, circular saw, etc..)
- Pike pole to probe for false ceilings and other obstruction after holes are made
- 2 1/2 inch hose line
- Hose Clamp
- Gate Valve
- Additional handline for protection of interior attack crews
- Multiple holes cut, and for larger buildings every 30ft
- Hose clamp placed 8ft back from the placement hole
- Gate Valve placed in the hose line at the 1st coupling outside of the building
- Gate valve is for emergency shut off/hose clamp used to control water flow when discontinuing or moving nozzle from one hole to another
By: Tremayne Baker
Pump Pressure/How To Use
- Pump pressure should be considered as a fog tip; 100lbs + Friction loss which is about 16lbs per 100ft of 2 1/2 inch hose line
- Not to be/rarely used on the first attack line
- Hose with cellar nozzle put through a hole and raised up and down to provide good coverage (howd straps or ropes can be used to effectively accomplish this)
- The cellar nozzle is time-consuming and difficult, and the work to set it up must be done in the very worst conditions
- Experienced, well trained firefighters are needed for this evolution. The area will need to be well lit and ventilated
- Good supervision is a must and a sector safety officer should be assigned to keep an eye on the time, and on the building conditions to ensure firefighter safety and a timely exit if necessary
- This evolution is efficient, and when able to reach can extinguish and fire within minutes
- Subsequent/additional holes should be cut while the nozzle is being used in primary holes to widen coverage area