Why your fire department should have a Torpedo in its fire suppression arsenal

Sponsored Content by American Fire Equipment

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer

One of our living fire service legends in the U.S. is Dr. Burt Clark. Among his many accomplishments has been that of being the originator and champion for firefighter MAYDAY and the National Seat Belt Pledge for fire departments (Why do we still have firefighters not using the seatbelts on their fire apparatus 100% of the time?).

Another of Dr. Clark’s quests has been to get firefighters and officers to understand that the FAST, CLOSE, AND WET aspects of our fire service culture are frequently the basis for poor outcomes, especially firefighter line of duty deaths and injuries. Not familiar with FAST, CLOSE AND WET?

FAST. From their earliest days, fire departments have emphasized getting to the scene of a fire as quickly as possible.

CLOSE. When firefighting consisted of using buckets to apply water to the fire, getting close to the seat of the fire was critical. And it’s still a part of our culture, even though the evolution of fire pumps and fire hoses.

WET. Getting water on the burning material at the seat of the fire before it has a chance to “get out of hand.”

Read Next: Your Behavior Comes from Ben Franklin’s DNA: Fast, Close, Wet, Risk, Injury, Death

Over the last several decades, we’ve become more informed and educated regarding F-C-W and its impact on firefighter safety and health. The chemicals, chemical compounds, and carcinogens firefighters encountered today by getting close (i.e., interior structural firefighting) are making too many firefighters sick, especially developing cancer at a rate higher than the public they serve.

Another thing that we’ve learned is that we don’t have to get close or necessarily put the “wet stuff on the red stuff” to improve interior conditions for any persons still in the structure, and that includes firefighters. The fire behavior and suppression research by UL and other research organizations has shown conclusively that the transitional fire attack strategy can dramatically lower temperatures in a burning building.

Using a transitional fire attack also aids in “resetting” the burning structure’s interior atmosphere, making it safer for firefighters to get close and complete extinguishment without the punishing heat they would encounter using traditional firefighter tactics.

The Torpedo Nozzle

Craig Hillinger, of American Fire Equipment, developed the Torpedo Nozzle, a nozzle that enables firefighters to get water into a structure in a way that maximizes steam production without a firefighter having to enter the burning structure. And, as we know, maximum steam production is good because:

• Steam displaces oxygen in the interior atmosphere, thereby inhibiting fire growth.
• The water droplets in steam absorb a tremendous amount of heat, thus cooling the interior atmosphere more quickly.
• The more heat that’s absorbed by the steam, the less water needed to get the job done, and that also equates to less water needed and less water damage from water that didn’t convert to steam (Water conservation has become a big deal in many parts of the U.S., particularly in western states experiencing drought conditions).

The critical element necessary for efficient and effective water to steam conversion is the size of the water droplets formed by the nozzle. The smaller the droplets, the more steam produced, and the more steam produced the better the outcome.

The Torpedo is constructed using 6061 T6 structural aluminum tubing—all aluminum components are hard-coat anodized to meet NFPA specifications—that the Torpedo great durability, while at the same time, having the advantage of being light weight (The Torpedo is also available in a stainless-steel version at an additional cost).

 The Torpedo uses 49 holes–each row of holes is offset 15 degrees—to create a balanced and atomized fire stream pattern consisting of incredibly small water droplets that more rapidly convert to steam.

The precise spacing of each hole enables the Torpedo nozzle to be neutral while flowing water; this makes the tool very maneuverable on a fire ground, with little to no pushback from nozzle pressure. This gives a firefighter a nozzle that can hit all areas inside a fire compartment while remaining outside the structure and out of the reach of smoke and fire gases for fires such as:

• Room and contents fires
• Attic fires
• Basement fires
• Closed spaces, which are difficult to access
• Trailer fires
• Vehicle fires
• Multiple types of residential fires
• Multiple types of commercial fires

Why should a Fire Departments Have a Torpedo on All its Fire Apparatus?

Because the Torpedo improves firefighter safety by providing a highly effective fire stream from an exterior position, thereby reducing a firefighter’s exposure to fire, heat, fire gases, and soot (particulates). But there’s more:  

• Using flow rate of up to 200 GPM, coupled with extremely efficient atomization of water, both the TORPEDO A360 and TORPEDO 360S models produce a fire stream with high water surface area for more effective heat absorption. This results in rapid fire compartment temperature reduction, making possible an occupant environment that’s more survivable, and safer for firefighters to engage in search and rescue operations more quickly.
• The water discharge point is inside the fire compartment, making it perhaps the fastest, and the safest direct attack possible while also delivering incredible water-to-steam conversion for transitional / direct fire attack.
• Reduces the number of firefighters needed in many cases-when compared to the number required to initiate an interior fire attack—and that’s a “big deal” because career and volunteer fire department alike are finding themselves short staffed.
• On scene times—from initial suppression to overhaul—can be reduced with a significant reduction in overall water usage, due to the Torpedo’s high efficiency.

Lastly, using the Torpedo can reduce overall wear and exposure to turnout gear—aiding in extending the service life of turnout gear—because using the Torpedo means fewer firefighters entering a burning structure and being exposed to elevated levels of heat and soot.

The Rest of the Torpedo Package

Two other key elements for using the Torpedo nozzle are the control valve and extensions. The Torpedo uses a 1 ½-inch shut-off valve (Manufactured by S&H Fire Products to AFE’s design specs) that provides a full flow water way for nozzle so that proper flow rate reaches the nozzle to create the ideal discharge pattern from the Torpedo.

The other key element is the Torpedo Extension—made with the same 6061 T6 Aluminum Tubing—that provides the reach necessary to get the Torpedo into the fire space. The convenience of assembling this tool with standard hose couplers makes for fast and easy assembly on the fire ground. American Fire Equipment installs a stainless alignment support sleeve in each extension for easy assembly, as well as added strength to the joint.

Individual fire departments can choose their own combination of nozzle extensions; 3-ft., 4-ft., 5-ft. ,8-ft., 10-ft., and 12-ft. extensions are in-stock items. The shorter combination sets (3-5 feet) can be purchased together as AFE’s new Minute Man Set. But if a fire department needs something more specific, AFE can produce any custom length from 1-foot to 24-feet because all Torpedo nozzles and extensions are crafted in house.

Interior structural firefighting has gotten more hazardous with the introduction of synthetics (mostly petroleum-based) and lightweight building construction, both of which mean firefighters are arriving at the time conditions are right for a flashover because of the higher rate of heat release from those burning materials.

Doesn’t it make sense to have a TORPEDO in your arsenal that enables you to address more fire suppression scenarios without enduring unnecessary exposure and risk? For more information, including how to order your TORPEDO, visit American Fire Equipment online at https://www.afecompany.com/