103. When fighting a fire in an enclosed space, why should the hose team crouch as low as possible?

Crouching allows heat and steam to pass overhead, protecting the hose team from intense radiant heat and scalding steam, which naturally accumulate in the upper layer of an enclosed space due to thermal layering; this is the primary safety consideration, superseding hose maneuverability or reliance on compartment air quality when SCBA is required.