When Standpipes Fail, Peekskill Firefighters Practice Plan B

Peekskill, N.Y. — October 17, 2026 — Career and volunteer members of the City of Peekskill Fire Department trained this week on improvised standpipe operations, practicing ways to deliver water to upper floors when a building’s standpipe system is unavailable or no system is installed.

Standpipes are built-in piping systems that provide firefighters with water access on multiple floors of a building. When these systems fail or are not available, crews may need to develop another way to supply hose lines for fire suppression.

During the training, firefighters practiced two alternative methods. In a rope stretch, crews lowered a rope from an upper-floor window, secured a hose to it, and hoisted the hose up the exterior of the building. In a well stretch, firefighters routed hose vertically between stair railings to reduce the amount of hose needed to reach upper floors.