First Line

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You arrive with your engine company to a 5 story occupied multiple dwelling of ordinary construction at 0400 hours. There is an obvious working fire somewhere in the building. You have light smoke puffing from the eves, the lobby doors are open and heavier gray/brown smoke is visible in the lobby.

The fire alarm is sounding and people are actually exiting the building. The officer of the engine company does a quick jog-around the perimeter and sees fire coming from two windows on level 2 at the rear of the building. There is also a fire escape at those windows and people from the above floors are attempting to make their way down the fire escape.

The officer has one decision to make about the one line his two other firefighters will be able to deploy until more help arrives. There is also an MPO at the rig.

Now here's your question: Where would you as the officer direct that first line to be deployed?

Officers and senior members; let the younger members take a shot at this question. And younger members, no googling, and no text booking before you answer. We're on the honor system here.