Summary: During a residential high-rise fire in Chicago, a hose team became trapped behind a jammed steel door caused by a charged line. With no bleeder valve and limited options, Captain Tim Walsh and Squad 1 had to reroute and deploy an unconventional hose stretch to regain water flow and extinguish the fire. This incident highlights how having the right tools—like a high-rise valve with a bleeder—can prevent dangerous delays and improve outcomes during complex high-rise incidents.
The Incident: When Everything That Could Go Wrong, Did
Tim Walsh, a 33-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department and now an instructor with the Illinois Fire Service Institute, shared a high-rise fire scenario where equipment limitations almost turned deadly. His crew was operating as Squad 1 during a residential high-rise fire, leading out from a protected stairwell. As the line was being charged, it got caught under a steel fire door. The pressure forced the door up into its jamb, and it locked shut.
Despite having all the usual forcible entry tools—Hydra-Ram, Halligan, sledge—nothing could get that door open. On the other side was a hose team, trapped behind a fire-rated barrier, with a stream that couldn’t reach the seat of the fire.
The Missing Piece: No Bleeder Valve
The critical gap? A bleeder valve. Without one, there was no safe or efficient way to reduce pressure or adjust the line without shutting down operations entirely. In a high-stakes environment, seconds count. Without a bleeder, options narrow quickly.
The Unconventional Fix: A Second Stretch, the Long Way Around
Walsh and his crew made a controversial move: they went down to the floor below, crossed to the opposite stairwell, and pulled the hotel line past the original hose team. It wasn’t SOP—and in fact, it was “unsavory and illegal” in CFD terms—but it was the only viable solution under pressure. Once they knocked down the fire, they were able to free the jammed 2.5-inch line and finish suppression.
Lessons for Firefighters: Gear Matters
This story isn’t just a war story—it’s a wake-up call. When the gear doesn’t match the complexity of the building, the crew suffers. A high-rise valve with an integrated bleeder could have completely changed the outcome here. It would’ve allowed pressure relief, controlled flow, and likely prevented the hose from jamming the door in the first place.
Why This Still Matters: It Could Happen to You
High-rise firefighting is complex, fast-moving, and often unforgiving. If your department is still running basic standpipe kits without bleeder valves or precision control valves, you're gambling with outcomes. Gear decisions aren’t just about preference—they’re about survivability and efficiency.
Hear the Full Story
Want to hear it straight from Tim Walsh? Check out the full interview for an in-depth look at what went wrong, what got improvised, and what could prevent it next time.
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