For most fire departments, the main function of the engine company is to deliver water – put water on the fire and the fire will go out. Most engine companies come equipped with a top-mounted deck gun, which can deliver a large volume of water from a great distance.
The deck gun is one of the most valuable tools on the engine, but it’s often overlooked and underused by firefighters. It’s important to understand that the deck gun likely will not put out all the fire; its purpose is to knock down a significant volume of fire so attack lines can be advanced into the structure to complete the suppression efforts.
Using a deck gun on a residential structure fire
In our training video, we have a bird’s eye view of a structure fire that sets the stage for using the deck gun. Warning: It’s hard to watch as the fire grows in intensity and volume ahead of the responding crews’ arrival.
From the initial ignition of the garage fire until the arrival of the first engine company, the blaze develops and spreads into the attic of the garage, then into the living area of the house and most likely into the attic. When crews see a large volume of fire at a residential structure in a certain portion of the house – or even if the entire house is fully involved – that is an opportunity to use the deck gun to knock it down. As the first-arriving engine positions itself in front of the house, the audible call from the company or chief officer on scene is to use the deck gun right away.
When considering whether to use the deck gun, it is imperative to know your engine’s onboard water supply, as well as the potential available water supply, whether from a nearby hydrant or from another engine company supplying their onboard water supply to the first engine. In the video, a supply line was hand-jacked back to the closest hydrant and secured.
The advantage of the deck gun is to deliver a large volume of water either in short bursts or over a longer period. If armed correctly with a stack set of smooth bore tips, a deck gun can deliver 500 gpm, easily knocking down significant fire volume. The deck gun also provides significant reach; the stacked tips allow the stream to get into the structure, penetrate the thermal updraft, and begin cooling and suppressing the fire. The reach of the stream also allows the engine to stage defensively to protect the apparatus from radiant heat.
Crews should practice using the deck gun on a regular basis, including how to extend the deck gun, aim it, rotate it, and how to quickly fill it using water from the booster tank.
If your engine has a deck gun, ensure that it is ready to be deployed and that all personnel are familiar with its operation to assist in knocking down large fires.
Training time
After watching this video with your company:
1. Practice setting up the deck gun at the station and flow some water to become familiar with its operation.
2. Train for efficiency with a drill that clocks how long it takes for crewmembers to arrive on scene, climb atop the engine and begin flowing water with the deck gun.
