Using a standpipe connection in a stairwell, how should the hose be arranged?

• A. Back and forth on the landing
• B. In large coils on the landing nearest the fire floor
• C. Up the stairwell toward the floor above the fire
• D. Down the stairwell toward the floor below the fire floor

Answer: (C)

The main idea is to deploy the hose upward as you climb toward the fire floor. When you advance a standpipe line, you want the section of hose you’re moving with you to the upper level so you can reach the fire quickly and keep the line under control. Arranging the hose up the stairwell minimizes tangles, drag, and tripping hazards on the stairs and helps you advance the nozzle directly to the floor where the fire is.

Coiling on a landing or keeping the hose loose toward the fire floor would create snags and extra work, and sending the hose down toward the floor below pulls the line away from the fire and wastes time as you descend to re-engage. So, directing the hose up the stairs toward the floor above the fire keeps the attack efficient and ready to flow water as soon as you arrive.