Summary: When facing a garage fire with heavy heat and limited entry options, fog nozzles offer wider coverage and faster knockdown thanks to fine droplet steam conversion, while smooth bores deliver reach and penetration. The best choice depends on your immediate tactical goals — hit from the outside or push interior.
You roll up on a garage fire that’s already pushing heat. Visibility’s low, the structure’s tight, and you need to knock it down fast. So what’s your move — fog nozzle or smooth bore?
In Episode 2 of Fully Involved in New York, this exact scenario sparks some firehouse-friendly debate. Chief Johnson leans fog nozzle. Why? It’s all about heat absorption and reach — without needing pinpoint accuracy. With a fog stream, you get a spread of small droplets that rapidly turn to steam, cooling the space and helping suppress the fire even before you commit to an interior push.
When seconds count, fog nozzles can be forgiving. You don’t have to be dead-on. The cone pattern hits a broader area, and the droplets work double duty — knocking down flame and prepping the room for a safer entry. For initial knockdown, especially from the outside, fog gives you that margin of error and heat control.
While fog gets the glory in this clip, smooth bore advocates know its value: direct reach, deep penetration, and less nozzle reaction. Once more crews arrive and it’s time to push inside, a smooth bore might be your go-to. It’s not a question of which is “better,” but which suits the moment.
This reel is just a taste. Episode 2 of Fully Involved dives deeper into nozzle choice, tactics, and on-the-ground decisions. Check it out and weigh in — what would you pull for a garage fire?