Tips for Firefighters - How to Go Up and Down Stairwells in a Working Fire

Firefighters do certain tasks in a certain manner due to their extensive training. We're even taught the right way to ascend up and descend down stairwells in working structure fires.

First of all, never go up or down any stairwell without a partner, a radio, or being told by your commanding officer. Having a hoseline in place is a great idea as well, as anything could happen at any second in a fire.

With the smoking billowing out of every opening of the house searching for oxygen, you should always stay on your knees. Heat and smoke both rise, so crawling on your hands and knees will keep you more safe for an extended period of time. Also, this will help you visually, as you'll be able to see better while on your hands and knees.

Once you get to the bottom or top of the stairs you must communicate with your team. Let them know you've found a stairwell, and tell them whether is ascends or descends. When it's an instance where everyone is going to go up (officers are the first ones to go up/down usually), crawl up the stairs on your hands and knees, and crawl as fast as you can. Those stairs, especially in a working fire, become very hot. Sometimes the heat will shoot right up your turnout pants, which serves as some motivation to go faster as well.

It's practically the same idea for when you're descending down the stairs as well. When at the top of the stairwell notify your team. When it's your turn to go down turn around on your hands and knees and descend down the stairs, quickly.

If there's someone waiting to ascend/descend the stairs, yell "Clear!" once you have reached your destination. Time is of the essence, so make it fast. Make sure your yell extremely loud and clear. This will generally be hard since at the same time there may be radios going off, you're yelling through a scott pak, saws are going to be cutting through wood and metal, there may be sirens, people yelling, and, of course, the fire itself may be ripping through the structure.

When you ascend/descend the stairs, always put your hands and feet to the outer-most part of the step, as this provides the most stability, and is the strongest part of the step. Do your best not to stomp on the steps too hard, either. You're already packed to the brim with gear (ex: turnout gear, scott pak, tools, ect) making you heavier than your normal body weight. So be quick on the steps, but also be careful and not too rough as well.

Last, but not least, is the fact that those stairwells can act just like chimneys - smoke is going to pour out of a basement stairwell. Unless you're about to go down a set of stairs, you should be to the side of the doorframe.