What the Books Won’t Tell You

When it comes to using ground ladders on the fireground there seems to be a whole lot of information in the books that doesn’t really correspond to how we actually use them on the street. On a truck company, ground ladders are a big part of our job when we arrive on the fireground. When it comes to actually using them, here’s what I would tell you….

Know Your Ladders

Before we start talking about using ground ladders on the fireground, we really need to look at what type of ground ladders you carry, where you carry them, and what you can do with them.

Today’s truck companies carry a host of ground ladders either in a rear compartment or on the side of the apparatus, or both. The minimum compliment of ground ladders carried by a truck company, based on the standards, is 115 feet. One problem with this minimum standard, and a change from years past, is that the minimum compliment is based on total feet and not the actual types of ladders (e.g., 24-foot, 28-foot, 35-foot, etc.). While this may not seem like a big deal it has actually reduced the number of ladders carried. What does your truck company carry?

One critical piece of information about ground ladders, that determines how they are actually used on the fireground, is their weight. The weight of the ladder determines whether the ladder is a one-person or a two-person ladder. This is extremely important today due to limited staffing.

There are two main manufacturers of ground ladders found on today’s aerials: Duo Safety and Alco-Lite. While there are many different types and configurations, let’s keep it simple and talk about roof ladders and two-section extension ladders. Here’s a rough breakdown of the differences between these brands of ladders (based on information taken from each company’s website).

Carries and Throws

This is where knowing the weight of your ladders makes all the difference in the world. The more people it takes to carry and throw ladders, the fewer people there are for other tasks or the fewer ladders get thrown! When it comes to carrying and throwing ladders on the fireground, the bottom line is that you need to know your own limitations. If one person can carry the ladder and his tools to the fireground and throw it, then you shouldn’t use two. Training is where you figure this out.

Finding a way to attach common tools to the ladder helps you become more efficient carrying them to the scene. If your tool assignment is a 28-foot extension ladder, hook, and a Halligan, then find an efficient way to carry all of them to the scene. We attach the hook to the ladder so when it comes out of the bed, it’s one less tool to gather before heading to the structure.

The Great Debate — Ladder Angle and Tip Placement

Ladder Angle

There’s an ongoing debate in the fire service regarding the angle at which the ladder is placed. The books all state that the proper climbing angle is somewhere around 75 degrees. The angle that seems to work better for a variety of fireground operations is somewhat less than that-referred to commonly as an exaggerated angle.

The exaggerated angle started showing up on the fireground when firefighter survival training became popular. One of the survival skills taught was the head-first ladder slide. When performing a head-first ladder slide a firefighter has much more control if the ladder is placed at an exaggerated angle.

Another fireground operation that benefits from this exaggerated angle is a firefighter or civilian rescue over a ground ladder. With an exaggerated angle the weight of the firefighter or civilian being rescued is placed more on the ladder and less on the firefighter performing the rescue.

The main concern stated when placing a ladder at an exaggerated angle is that the base may kick out and the ladder may fall. Applying common sense will neutralize this concern. Any time there is a concern about a ladder kicking out then that ladder should be footed (no matter what the angle). While the books say that a ground ladder should be footed all the time, it’s simply not possible. A ground ladder placed on soft ground, where the feet can be secured in that ground, is a ladder that we routinely use without footing.

Tip Placement

The tip of the ground ladder should be placed at, or slightly below, the windowsill for window-based fireground operations. In the past there were a variety of tip placement locations based on the intended use of the ladder (window access, window venting, etc.). Over time, and due to the fact that we don’t  have the time or energy to constantly climb and move ground ladders for specific tasks, the standard fireground placement of ground ladders to windows has become at an exaggerated angle with the tip at or slightly below the windowsill.

When it comes to roof access the tip should be placed three to five rungs above the roofline at an angle that’s easily climbed while carrying tools. During these operations that angle is usually found to be somewhere between the traditional climbing angle that was taught and the newer exaggerated angle that is used.

Venting Windows

Another area of great debate in the fire service is venting windows with ladders. When it comes to venting windows, we use ladders. Whether we’re first or second due, when we place ladders for VES, egress, or access we vent the window with the tip of the ladder and then place the tip  at or slightly below the sill at an exaggerated angle. If we didn’t clear the entire window (and sash) then we’ll quickly climb the ladder and clear the rest of the window.

Roof Operations

When we have to open the roof, we’ll use both ground ladders and the aerial, if possible. Since roof venting is a function of our second-due truck companies, there’s always the chance that the first-due has their stick up when we get there. If that’s the case, we’ll still throw at least one ground ladder to the roof (usually a 28 footer) with the tips placed three to five rungs above the roofline. We’ll also get a roof ladder up to the peak. Many of our aerials have roof ladders mounted on the aerial. If we’re accessing the roof over the aerial, we’ll usually grab the ladder on the way up. The second ladder from the ground simply gives us another option, or way off, if we need it.

Reprinted with permission from Firescue Interactive, Fire Department Training Network, www.fdtraining.com