The Well-Hole Stretch

Advancing a hoseline up a stairwell is a resource- and energy-depleting operation, especially when a 2½-inch hoseline must be advanced up the stairwell. As the hoseline is advanced, additional hoseline is required to navigate the turns of the stairwell. Pinch points that may be created around those turns will reduce the efficiency of, or even stop, the hoseline advancement operation if they are not effectively managed. Managing these pinch points requires additional staffing.

One hoseline advancement tactic that is available to firefighters is the well-hole stretch, which utilizes the space between the sections of stairs in the stairwell. When considering a well-hole hoseline stretch operation, firefighters must always first ensure that the well hole is of adequate size to allow for the charged hoseline and couplings to pass through it. One safe practice is to have a firefighter insert both of their closed gloved fists into the well hole. If both fists fit, the well hole will be of adequate size for this type of stretch operation.

Next, the firefighter must determine how many lengths of hoseline will be necessary. If the hoseline were to be advanced up the stairwell without using the well-hole stretch tactic, one length of hoseline (50 feet) would need to be provided for every floor of the stairwell that the hoseline must ascend. Additional lengths of hoseline are also required to reach from the stairwell to the fire area, and then one length of hoseline must be allowed for the fire area itself.

Consider advancing a hoseline to the fourth floor for a fire area that is located 40 feet from the stairwell. The stairwell stretch breaks down like this:

• Floors 1–4: four lengths of hoseline (200 feet)
• Stairwell to fire area (located 40 feet from stairwell): one length of hoseline (50 feet)
• Fire area: one length of hoseline (50 feet)

When combined, the total length of hoseline is 300 feet.

By using the well-hole stretch technique, the number of lengths of hoseline will be greatly reduced. The well-hose stretch allows for one length of hoseline to ascend the stairwell vertically in a straight line, therefore the length of the hoseline is the same height of the stairwell. (One length of hoseline should only be considered adequate to advance up to four floors when using the well-hole stretch tactic.) It is advisable to have the hoseline exit the well hole on the floor below the fire floor and then advance up to the fire floor in the same fashion as a standpipe operation. An additional length of hoseline must be allotted for ascending the stairwell from the floor below the fire floor to the fire floor. Additional lengths of hoseline are also required to reach from the stairwell to the fire area, and then one length of hoseline must be allowed for the fire area itself. As such, the well-hole stretch breaks down like this:

• Floors 1–3 (well-hole stretch): 1 length of hoseline (50 feet)
• Floor 3 to Floor 4: one length of hoseline (50 feet)
• Stairwell to fire area (located 40 feet from stairwell): one length of hoseline (50 feet)
• Fire area: one length of hoseline (50 feet)

When combined, the total length of hoseline is 200 feet.

Keep in mind that the amount of hose needed for the stretches described above only applies to the hoseline needs for the building itself. The amount of hose needed to cover the setback (the distance from the building entrance to the apparatus) must be determined and added to the amount of hoseline needed to cover the building. The combination of the amount of hoseline needed to cover the building as well as the setback is the total required length of the hoseline. 

Multiple techniques

There are multiple techniques that firefighters can use to perform the well-hole hoseline stretch operation, whether advancing with a charged or uncharged hoseline.

Raise via utility rope—The first technique involves hoisting the hoseline up using a utility rope, and should follow these steps:

1. Firefighters ascend the stairwell to the floor below the fire floor with the utility rope.
2. They lower the utility rope through the well hole of the stairwell.
3. A firefighter, who remained positioned at the base of the stairwell, ties off the hoseline to be hoisted using the correct technique depending on whether the hoseline is charged (if a charged hoseline is to be hoisted, the firefighter must ensure that the nozzle control bale is secured in the closed position).
4. The firefighters positioned on the floor below the fire hoist the hoseline up to their position through the well hole and over the hand rail to where it can then be advanced up to the fire floor and into the fire area. Note: All of the available hoseline must be advanced to this floor and be raised over the hand rail of the stairwell and on the stairs of the stairwell; no available hoseline should remain at the base of the stairwell
5. The firefighters positioned on the floor below the fire floor tie off the hoseline on the floor below the fire floor.
6. Firefighters flake out the hoseline.
7. As the firefighter who remained positioned at the base of the stairwell ascends the stairwell, they will tie off the hoseline every 4 floors to reduce the pressure that is placed on the hoseline couplings.

Stretch as you ascend—The second technique is for the firefighters to stretch or advance the hoseline up the well hole as they ascend the stairwell, and should include these steps::

1. Crews position the hoseline inside of the stairwell well hole while at the base of the stairwell.
2. Firefighters ascend the stairwell, while holding just the nozzle, to the floor below the fire floor (as the firefighters ascend the stairwell, the hoseline will be raised through the well hole of the stairwell). Note: All of the available hoseline must be advanced to this floor and be raised over the hand rail of the stairwell and onto the stairs; no available hoseline should remain at the base of the stairwell.
3. Firefighters tie off the hoseline on the floor below the fire floor.
4. Firefighters flake out the hoseline.
5. Once the hoseline is advanced to the floor below the fire floor, one firefighter must ensure that the hoseline is tied off every 4 floors to reduce the pressure that is placed on the hoseline couplings.

Carry nozzle and lead length as you ascend—The difference between this technique and the second technique is that in this one, the firefighter will advance the nozzle and the lead length (50 feet) of the hoseline up the stairwell while advancing the remaining lengths of the hoseline up the well hole. To perform this technique:

1. The nozzle firefighter loads the lead length of the hoseline onto their shoulder and ascends the stairwell with the nozzle in hand until reaching the floor below the fire.
2. Another firefighter inserts the hoseline into the well hole of the stairwell.
3. As the nozzle firefighter ascends the stairwell, the hoseline is raised through the well hole. Note: All of the available hoseline must be advanced to this floor and be raised over the hand rail of the stairwell and onto the stairs; no available hoseline should remain at the base of the stairwell.
4. Firefighters tie off the hoseline on the floor below the fire floor.
5. Firefighters flake out the hoseline.
6. Once the hoseline is advanced to the floor below the fire floor, one firefighter ensures that the hoseline is tied off every 4 floors to reduce the pressure that is placed on the hoseline couplings.

In sum

Performing a well-hole hoseline stretch operation will reduce the strain that is placed on the resources available on the fire scene by reducing the length of the hoseline that must be advanced up the stairwell. This tactic will also assist in conserving the energy of the firefighters who are performing the operation, allowing them to focus their energy on the fire-attack operation. The well-hole stretch is a simple tactic that all firefighters should understand as well as be able to perform.