Which stream has greater reach and penetrating power?

A solid stream has greater reach and penetrating power compared to other types of streams. This is primarily due to its focused and concentrated nature, which allows the water to travel further with minimal dispersion. When using a solid stream, the water maintains a cohesive mass, enabling it to penetrate deeper into burning materials or through heavy smoke and fire conditions. This is particularly advantageous when trying to directly attack a fire at its base or in situations where it is necessary to maintain effective distance from the flames.

In contrast, a fog stream disperses the water into a spray, which can improve surface area coverage and cooling but loses penetration and reach. Weak and spray streams are similarly designed for broader coverage but are not suitable when the need for distance and penetration is paramount. Understanding these characteristics allows firefighters to select the appropriate stream type depending on the situation they're faced with.