What is an attack line?

• A. Hose that goes from the engine to the fire, also known as pre-connect
• B. Hose that goes from hydrant to engine
• C. A line used for ventilation
• D. A line used for fueling the engine

Answer: (A)

An attack line is the hose you use to apply water directly to the fire. It’s typically a handline that’s pre-connected on the engine or quickly deployed so firefighters can start suppressing the flames right away. This is different from a supply line, which brings water from a hydrant to the engine, not to the fire; a line used for ventilation is for removing heat and smoke, not delivering water; and a line used for fueling the engine isn’t involved in firefighting operations. In practice, you pull the attack line from the engine, attach the nozzle, and advance toward the fire to knock it down.