Task Force Tips

06/25/2026

06/24/2026

What’s one tip for pulling the first line?
Every firefighter has seen a bad stretch slow things down.

The stretch starts before the nozzle gets to the door.
Pick the wrong line, and the whole crew feels it.
Stretch short, and you may not reach the seat.
Stretch long, and now someone has to manage the pile.

Flaking matters.
Hose movement matters.
Knowing who calls the stretch matters.

Every first line has a decision behind it. What should a probie learn first?

Drop your best tip in the comments.

06/23/2026

What's the long-term cost if you push your pump 18% more every time you use it? That's what could be happening if you don't have a low-friction loss monitor like the Monsoon.

You're an operator who already has a thousand things to worry about:
- Water supply
- Pump pressure
- Elevation
- Placement
- Radio traffic
- Stream reach
- Crew position

You shouldn't have to add to that stress with a screaming pump, overworked engine and frustrating stream.

So consider giving your pump and engine a break with 64% less friction loss (only 6 PSI at 1,250 GPM and 15 PSI at 2,000 GPM compared to 2.5x that with competing monitors).

The Monsoon is a weight-efficient monitor firefighters trust for big water and low friction loss on aerial ladders, platforms and pumpers.

Curious? Head to the comments to see a Monsoon fixed monitor for yourself.

06/10/2026

😳 That's a lot of LDH

Pt. 4: How one hydrant can feed two engines 2,000 GPM with 35 psi residual thanks to the 4-way Oasis hydrant assist valve.

Watch the water supply breakdown from TFT's Ben Lehman then watch the full video to learn more about the Houtzdale-Ramey Fire Company crew's intake to intake pumping move.

👉 Download your hydrant valve guide by heading to the comments

06/10/2026

Is the Blitz a**ack the No. 1 most underutilized use of the deck g*n?

Firefighter PJ Norwood says the concern is simple.

Nobody wants to empty a 500 or 750 gallon tank too early.

But used quick and placed right, a deck g*n hit can still leave water for the interior a**ack.

Dump a couple hundred gallons, then move with 200, 300, or 400 gallons left.

👉 Watch Episode 12 of the TFT Fully Involved Podcast! Head to the comments. Evolving Fireground Fire Safety Research Institute

06/09/2026

Storefront fire with smoke pushing from the front glass: do you take the glass and stretch through the front, or hold the opening, locate the fire, force the rear, and coordinate ventilation with water first?

Storefronts often have deep layouts, high fuel loads, drop ceilings, void spaces, rear storage, limited access, security gates, lightweight renovations, and poor visibility.

The front may give you speed, but the rear may give you better access to the fire area, ventilation control, or egress for crews.

What do you think? Drop your perspective below.

06/08/2026

Do you agree? Don’t hit the gap.

Louisville FD Training Chief Christopher Thompson’s take: Firefighter exposure work is about angle.

He teaches his crews to aim their BlitzFire ground monitors right on the exposure, not between the buildings.

Why? Miss that and conditions can get worse for crews inside, he says.

Have a different perspective? Comment below. Then follow TFT for more helpful interviews.

06/07/2026

Firefighters, what’s the biggest interior mistake?

Tony Downes (now with Jeffersontown Fire Department in Kentucky) says firefighters often shut the nozzle down too quick instead of putting enough water on it fast.

Do you agree, or is there a bigger mistake?

What is Fully Involved?
Fully Involved is a series on a mission to show how fire departments across the country approach the job in their own way. Not to say one tactic is better than another, but to give firefighters a look at how other crews solve problems, make decisions, and adapt. The goal is to start conversations and help the fire service.

🎥 Head to the comments to watch the full Episode 13 on initial a**ack operations in Louisville!

06/05/2026

Vent first vs. water first. Which wins?

Firefighter tactics are changing, and PJ Norwood is breaking down the basement fire mindset in Episode 12 of the TFT Fully Involved Podcast.

Old way said get to the interior stairs, take a breath, then push down as fast as you can.
New way based on FSRI research says recognize the chimney effect, control the flow path, and get water into that environment fast.

Basement fire a**ack, ventilation timing, oxygen, low intake, high exhaust, and interior stair tactics are all on the table.

PJ Norwood serves on the Fire Safety Research Institute Training Advisory Committee and is an FDIC speaker, co-author of Evolving Fireground and the Director of Training at Connecticut Fire Academy.

👉 Watch the full conversation in E12 by heading to the comments