One individual type fire stream at a given pressure will not always meet this demand. Consequently, there are different types of fire streams used to meet the various conditions that confront fire fighters in extinguishing fires. When used as an extinguishing agent, water must be released on to the burning material in order to achieve the highest extinguishing effect with the least possible water damage. Fire fighters should know how to use modern fire fighting equipment to obtain the most efficient fire streams. The condition of the stream when it leaves the nozzle determines its condition upon reaching the desired point.
Many factors help determine the characteristics of a stream when it leaves the nozzle.
Other factors, working against them, tend to destroy the stream and diminish it's usefulness.