Embedded Files
August 2025
by Jared Trent & Cole Kleinwolterink
I once took a class where the instructor compared the close-quarters combat technique known as “slicing the pie” to firefighting. Now, I’m no trained tactical operator, but the illustration stuck with me. It painted a clear picture of how to properly approach the doorway of a fire compartment with intention, control, and awareness.
“Slicing the pie,” also known as “pie-ing,” is a tactical close quarters movement technique used to systematically clear a room by gradually moving around a corner of the doorframe in smooth motion with deliberate, controlled movements. This method allows for controlled engagement while minimizing personal exposure to threats.The speed of movement should never exceed your ability to identify and respond to what’s on the other side; similar to driving: never go faster than you can see and stop.
Done correctly, the tactic maximizes the use of cover and concealment while methodically clearing unknown space, leading to “less of you, more of them.”
So how does this apply to firefighting?
When the nozzle firefighter reaches the doorway of the fire room, they should adopt a similar approach to “slicing the pie” while flowing water into the fire compartment..
Think of the advance from the hallway to the fire room as a tactical entry. “Slicing the pie” on the fireground means using the near side of the doorway as your axis point, and using the reach of the stream to cool the room. The “less of you, more of them” principle applies as well. By rounding the corner from a distance and flowing water into the compartment, you reduce radiant heat exposure which we know is the type of thermal energy our gear offers the least protection against. The more you can do from outside the threshold, the better.
And just like in close quarters combat: “never move faster than you can effectively engage the target.” On the fireground, that translates to moving deliberately and not rushing to cross the threshold of the fire room.
video credit: Ray McCormack
Avoid getting “sucked into cover.” In movies, you’ll see characters press up against a wall before blindly turning their whole body into a doorway or corner. When we do that, we sacrifice awareness. Creating space away from the door, rather than hugging it, allows you to see more of the room and gives you better situational awareness. With this in mind, when advancing toward a fire room, the nozzle firefighter should take the opposite side of the hallway. If the room is on the right, advance along the left wall if possible. This provides a better angle for water application and allows the stream to hit the doorframe and deflect water into the fire compartment before entry (see picture). So although the nozzle firefighter wants to use the near side door frame as their turning axis, they should do it from the opposite side wall.
To illustrate this point, have a friend or family member stand inside a room while you “slice the pie” from outside. The farther you are from the door, the more of the room you’ll be able to see as you move. Watch videos of elite military units doing CQB—you’ll notice the guy on the right side of the hallway is watching the left, and vice versa. It’s all about working the angles.
This ties directly into processing speed. If you don’t get sucked into cover and instead maintain distance, you give your brain more time to assess and decide. Your ability to process information depends on your training, experience, and natural skill but adding space improves your decision-making window.
At first glance, it may seem like tactics from military or law enforcement don’t belong in the fire service. But when you break it down, the principles of spatial control, deliberate movement, and reducing exposure align perfectly with what we do. Our tools may be different, but the need for precision in high-risk environments is the same. Slicing the pie is just one more way we can improve our approach and own the space we’re working in, one corner at a time.
Training Objectives
Upon completion the firefighter should be able to….
Demonstrate proper nozzle positioning and movement when approaching a fire room using the “slicing the pie” technique.
Identify the tactical benefits of maintaining distance and angling when flowing water into a fire compartment.
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