– If fire extinguishers are supposed to be directed at the base of the fire, why do large fires often have firefighters on extended ladders shooting water from above?

Question

– If fire extinguishers are supposed to be directed at the base of the fire, why do large fires often have firefighters on extended ladders shooting water from above?

In: 13

Answer 1

because they are not able to get to a safe distance to “shoot at the base” of the fire. so you do what you can from a safe distance. and the hose pressure isn’t high enough to have it point down and shoot at the base, so it needs to shoot up and take an elliptical trajectory.