aerial ladders
AERIAL Apparatus and Ladder positioning
You get one chance on a fire to get the positioning of your ladder company right. After the outriggers go down and hoselines are stretched around, it is difficult if not impossible to reposition. Proper apparatus positioning is an art, requiring practice and ingenuity. Some factors that must be considered include:
-The dimensions of the apparatus.
-Accounting for the outrigger spread/footprint.
-The tactical objective (rescue, access, etc).
-The area of operation.
-Obstacles
Another required skill is to position not only
where the fire is now, but where will it be in 20
minutes - if nothing goes right? That’s where
our apparatus must be.
-The dimensions of the apparatus.
-Accounting for the outrigger spread/footprint.
-The tactical objective (rescue, access, etc).
-The area of operation.
-Obstacles
Another required skill is to position not only
where the fire is now, but where will it be in 20
minutes - if nothing goes right? That’s where
our apparatus must be.
AERIAL LIGHT POSITIONING
Do not have all the flood lights on the aerial in a forward position. This provides no value to the members operating on the roof. However, if the tip lights are angled differently, they can assist in positioning the ladder as well as illuminating the surface of the roof.
One of the tip lights should be angled almost straight down. Not quite 90°; closer to 80° or 85°. This allows the operator to watch the light run up the side of the structure to the top of the parapet or the side of a pitched roof to the ridge. Once the light disappears over the parapet or the ridge, the operator knows for certain that the tip has reached its target. Extending the ladder another five to seven rungs makes it easier and safer for members to get on and off the roof and to see the ladder if smoke conditions obscure the edge of the roof.
On the opposite side of the aerial ladder, the tip light is angled at about 45°. While the aerial is extending toward the roof, this light will help the operator with ladder placement by illuminating the objective being reached. Once the ladder is in place for operations, it will also cast light farther out onto the roof deck where members will be walking or operating.
One of the tip lights should be angled almost straight down. Not quite 90°; closer to 80° or 85°. This allows the operator to watch the light run up the side of the structure to the top of the parapet or the side of a pitched roof to the ridge. Once the light disappears over the parapet or the ridge, the operator knows for certain that the tip has reached its target. Extending the ladder another five to seven rungs makes it easier and safer for members to get on and off the roof and to see the ladder if smoke conditions obscure the edge of the roof.
On the opposite side of the aerial ladder, the tip light is angled at about 45°. While the aerial is extending toward the roof, this light will help the operator with ladder placement by illuminating the objective being reached. Once the ladder is in place for operations, it will also cast light farther out onto the roof deck where members will be walking or operating.
Aerial Ladders and Electricity
Firefighters across North America face a common utility hazard – electricity. Whether a small town, rural area or a large city setting, the hazards posed by electrical utilities are the same – and they are everywhere. There will be wires running from pole to pole and entering buildings as well as wires coming in from supply lines to supply the smaller feeder lines. This omnipresence is to be expected; after all, most of our modern activities are powered by electricity.
As beneficial as electricity is, it can be deadly for firefighters who do not respect its power.
Firefighters working around electricity must remember that the electrical current itself is invisible, but we can keep an eye on the wires used to deliver the current. Spotting those wires is critical to our safety.
In our corresponding video, covered by FireRescue1 here, we see an example of the power of electricity.
A high lift being used by a worker comes into contact with an overhead power line, causing the lift to catch on fire and trapping the worker 25 feet above the ground.
While this incident involves a fire response to a citizen in peril due to electricity, there are times when it is the first responders in grave danger. There are times when an aerial device could come into contact with overhead wires, prompting the same reaction as in the video above.
Recently there was an aerial ladder truck being checked in at Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services on the front tarmac at the station. During the routine morning check in, the aerial device came into contact with a set of overhead wires. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the new truck was destroyed.
So how do we reduce or eliminate the risks for firefighters working around electrical lines?
As beneficial as electricity is, it can be deadly for firefighters who do not respect its power.
Firefighters working around electricity must remember that the electrical current itself is invisible, but we can keep an eye on the wires used to deliver the current. Spotting those wires is critical to our safety.
In our corresponding video, covered by FireRescue1 here, we see an example of the power of electricity.
A high lift being used by a worker comes into contact with an overhead power line, causing the lift to catch on fire and trapping the worker 25 feet above the ground.
While this incident involves a fire response to a citizen in peril due to electricity, there are times when it is the first responders in grave danger. There are times when an aerial device could come into contact with overhead wires, prompting the same reaction as in the video above.
Recently there was an aerial ladder truck being checked in at Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services on the front tarmac at the station. During the routine morning check in, the aerial device came into contact with a set of overhead wires. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the new truck was destroyed.
So how do we reduce or eliminate the risks for firefighters working around electrical lines?
- First, always maintain situational awareness, particularly working around overhead wires with an aerial device or ground ladder. As a refresher, situational awareness means knowing what is going on around you at all times – below you, above you, everywhere.
- Maintain a distance of 10 feet or more when working around power lines. This is the minimum distance recommended by most utility companies. This will help minimize the chance of accidental contact between arching wires and an aerial ladder or ground ladder.
- Lastly, use a spotter when working with ladders. When raising a ground ladder or using an aerial ladder, having a second set of eyes will always help with avoiding this hazard. They can inform the operator of how close they can be with moving the ladder around electrical lines.
TOP of the ladder
Not long ago, I wrote an article regarding ladder pipe operations. I stressed that placing a firefighter at the tip to control the stream was necessary for safer and more effective operations.
I would like to now take an opportunity to reiterate that the person in the basket or at the tip of the ladder pipe is the person on the fireground who has the best view of what’s going on beyond the horizon of the eaves of the roof or parapet wall. Nobody standing in Alpha Division or on the turntable should be making tactical decisions without input from those with a bird’s-eye view. After all, one of the most embarrassing (and frustrating) moments on a fireground is when a chief officer tells the aerial operator where to direct the stream despite having no real idea of what’s really going on all around the building.
Make these best practices the standard practice by downloading our infographic and sharing with your department.
If you have aerial devices in your department, use them! Aerial devices are the most underutilized pieces of equipment in the fire service for many departments. (Photos/Chris DelBello)Embarrassing tactics on displayI see it almost every day on the news or social media: aerial devices being used for strictly defensive operations, which is a waste of taxpayer money. Many professionals who train and know better see it as a sign of poor training, bad tactics and a complete lack of understanding of exactly what can be accomplished with aerial devices.
I have no doubt you have seen it, too – an aerial device extended the entire 100 feet into the sky sprinkling water down onto a raging fire. This tactic is not limited to warehouse fires; I have seen it on your typical two-story residential fires as well. It is entirely ineffective.
Then there’s dated “let’s get a single aerial device up in the air and that should be enough” theory, which makes it frustrating when there are several aerials sitting idle because of poor planning. Equally frustrating is when poorly staged engine companies block multiple aerial devices from positioning to the greater advantage of overall fireground control. Unless you only have one aerial device in your entire fleet and no mutual-aid departments with aerials, get your minds out of that dusty old box, and start making room for multiple aerial devices and plans for how to use them most effectively.
Planning for aerial opsFirst things first: Plan how you will use your aerial and how you will train your members to use the device most effectively. If you have aerials in your department, a large part of your planning should include training – a lot of training.
Training should focus on building construction, building collapse, fire dynamics, flow paths, placement and operation of the aerial, and limitations of the aerial device. These are key points of understanding for company officers who will find themselves in charge of an aerial device.
Standard operating guidelines or procedures (SOGs/SOPs) should also factor into training. The first page should read: “All incoming engines stage out of the way.” That means they shouldn’t even stage on the same block, with the exception of the attack engine, of course. This will allow for multiple aerial devices to position in the most advantageous location possible, which is in front of the building or close to it.
Think about it: If you have three-, four- or even five-story single-family residential structures in your first-due, do you think a single aerial device is optimal? The answer is no, regardless of how awesome you might think your crew is. One device can be in only one location at a time. So again, let’s plan ahead for multiple aerial devices.
A key point: These aerial devices are not only used for extinguishment purposes. They are used for access, rescue, ventilation and precautionary measures for firefighters operating out of the reach of ground ladders.
Let’s plan to always have someone in the bucket or on the tip of the ladder operating the fire streams from there. I am shocked at how many departments believe it is the turntable operator’s job to control the tower even with members inside the bucket. This is ridiculous.
I am even more disappointed when I see ladder pipes flowing without a firefighter on the tip to control exactly where the stream should go. Free-flowing a ladder pipe is dangerous and inefficient. Most ladder pipes have all the controls for the nozzle, including a shut-off valve, at the tip of the ladder.
Aerial apparatus placement can be tricky at times. Operators should be comfortable in tight spaces. When space and spotting are at a premium, getting tight can make all the difference between getting to your intended target. Narrow residential streets and parked cars can make this even more difficult. Get comfortable spotting close to other apparatus. A foot either direction on the street can make or break your game plan at the end of the aerial device. (Photos/Chris DelBello)Aerial ops on the offensiveWe need to be more aggressive!
Let’s get away from the mindset that our aerial devices are strictly for defensive operations. Let’s also work to change our tendency to begin the aerial operation too late in the event to make a difference. Implement aerial operations early!
Let’s also get away from stretching our ladders to their fullest extent, and let’s get to putting some real water on the fire early in the event. We want to punch that fire in the throat, not sprinkle it with hope. We need to bring our devices lower; in many cases, that means we need to bring our devices below the roof line.
We should be using our aerial devices well before fire breaches a hole in the roof’s exterior. Having an understanding of building construction, fireground dynamics and proper ladder placement makes this the obvious strategy. The first construction feature almost every fire department needs to understand is that roofs were designed to shed water. That means flowing a stream onto an intact roof is futile, even if there is a small hole burning through the roof’s exterior.
Instead, attack from below the roofline. Get the aerial in a position to attack void spaces above the ceiling through windows and eaves, through the gable ends or by cutting a hole in the exterior wall to allow access into the cockloft or void spaces above the ceiling. Position the aerial device to make a direct hit on the intended target.
Nozzle selectionNozzle selection today is entirely a personal preference. There are fog nozzles on the market that flow the same gpm as the smoothbore nozzles or at least the maximum design flow for the particular aerial device.
When choosing a nozzle, consider the goal of minimizing damage when protecting or cooling exposures. I have seen extensive damage result using a smoothbore directed onto an uninvolved exposure for “protective measures” only. Some fog nozzles will give you the maximum designed gpm for your aerial as well as other options.
With a ladder pipe, think about all you need to be able to do with a single nozzle. With a platform, you can have both a smoothbore and a fog if your device fits those specifications.
I would like to now take an opportunity to reiterate that the person in the basket or at the tip of the ladder pipe is the person on the fireground who has the best view of what’s going on beyond the horizon of the eaves of the roof or parapet wall. Nobody standing in Alpha Division or on the turntable should be making tactical decisions without input from those with a bird’s-eye view. After all, one of the most embarrassing (and frustrating) moments on a fireground is when a chief officer tells the aerial operator where to direct the stream despite having no real idea of what’s really going on all around the building.
Make these best practices the standard practice by downloading our infographic and sharing with your department.
If you have aerial devices in your department, use them! Aerial devices are the most underutilized pieces of equipment in the fire service for many departments. (Photos/Chris DelBello)Embarrassing tactics on displayI see it almost every day on the news or social media: aerial devices being used for strictly defensive operations, which is a waste of taxpayer money. Many professionals who train and know better see it as a sign of poor training, bad tactics and a complete lack of understanding of exactly what can be accomplished with aerial devices.
I have no doubt you have seen it, too – an aerial device extended the entire 100 feet into the sky sprinkling water down onto a raging fire. This tactic is not limited to warehouse fires; I have seen it on your typical two-story residential fires as well. It is entirely ineffective.
Then there’s dated “let’s get a single aerial device up in the air and that should be enough” theory, which makes it frustrating when there are several aerials sitting idle because of poor planning. Equally frustrating is when poorly staged engine companies block multiple aerial devices from positioning to the greater advantage of overall fireground control. Unless you only have one aerial device in your entire fleet and no mutual-aid departments with aerials, get your minds out of that dusty old box, and start making room for multiple aerial devices and plans for how to use them most effectively.
Planning for aerial opsFirst things first: Plan how you will use your aerial and how you will train your members to use the device most effectively. If you have aerials in your department, a large part of your planning should include training – a lot of training.
Training should focus on building construction, building collapse, fire dynamics, flow paths, placement and operation of the aerial, and limitations of the aerial device. These are key points of understanding for company officers who will find themselves in charge of an aerial device.
Standard operating guidelines or procedures (SOGs/SOPs) should also factor into training. The first page should read: “All incoming engines stage out of the way.” That means they shouldn’t even stage on the same block, with the exception of the attack engine, of course. This will allow for multiple aerial devices to position in the most advantageous location possible, which is in front of the building or close to it.
Think about it: If you have three-, four- or even five-story single-family residential structures in your first-due, do you think a single aerial device is optimal? The answer is no, regardless of how awesome you might think your crew is. One device can be in only one location at a time. So again, let’s plan ahead for multiple aerial devices.
A key point: These aerial devices are not only used for extinguishment purposes. They are used for access, rescue, ventilation and precautionary measures for firefighters operating out of the reach of ground ladders.
Let’s plan to always have someone in the bucket or on the tip of the ladder operating the fire streams from there. I am shocked at how many departments believe it is the turntable operator’s job to control the tower even with members inside the bucket. This is ridiculous.
I am even more disappointed when I see ladder pipes flowing without a firefighter on the tip to control exactly where the stream should go. Free-flowing a ladder pipe is dangerous and inefficient. Most ladder pipes have all the controls for the nozzle, including a shut-off valve, at the tip of the ladder.
Aerial apparatus placement can be tricky at times. Operators should be comfortable in tight spaces. When space and spotting are at a premium, getting tight can make all the difference between getting to your intended target. Narrow residential streets and parked cars can make this even more difficult. Get comfortable spotting close to other apparatus. A foot either direction on the street can make or break your game plan at the end of the aerial device. (Photos/Chris DelBello)Aerial ops on the offensiveWe need to be more aggressive!
Let’s get away from the mindset that our aerial devices are strictly for defensive operations. Let’s also work to change our tendency to begin the aerial operation too late in the event to make a difference. Implement aerial operations early!
Let’s also get away from stretching our ladders to their fullest extent, and let’s get to putting some real water on the fire early in the event. We want to punch that fire in the throat, not sprinkle it with hope. We need to bring our devices lower; in many cases, that means we need to bring our devices below the roof line.
We should be using our aerial devices well before fire breaches a hole in the roof’s exterior. Having an understanding of building construction, fireground dynamics and proper ladder placement makes this the obvious strategy. The first construction feature almost every fire department needs to understand is that roofs were designed to shed water. That means flowing a stream onto an intact roof is futile, even if there is a small hole burning through the roof’s exterior.
Instead, attack from below the roofline. Get the aerial in a position to attack void spaces above the ceiling through windows and eaves, through the gable ends or by cutting a hole in the exterior wall to allow access into the cockloft or void spaces above the ceiling. Position the aerial device to make a direct hit on the intended target.
Nozzle selectionNozzle selection today is entirely a personal preference. There are fog nozzles on the market that flow the same gpm as the smoothbore nozzles or at least the maximum design flow for the particular aerial device.
When choosing a nozzle, consider the goal of minimizing damage when protecting or cooling exposures. I have seen extensive damage result using a smoothbore directed onto an uninvolved exposure for “protective measures” only. Some fog nozzles will give you the maximum designed gpm for your aerial as well as other options.
With a ladder pipe, think about all you need to be able to do with a single nozzle. With a platform, you can have both a smoothbore and a fog if your device fits those specifications.
Aerial ladder Reference sheet
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