Skill Sets: Basic and Advanced

Laddering is one of the most important disciplines in truck work, right next to forcible entry and search and rescue. Being proficient in “throwing” ladders is very important and requires just as much skill, knowledge, strength, and finesse as the other tasks do. Many of us train on ladders and usually go over the types of raises and review methods of working off the ladder—the basics. When we look at being proficient and prepared, it should mean we’re able to perform at a moment’s notice and be ready to throw ladders with precision and expertise in any situation we encounter, especially when performing a daring rescue from a burning structure. Sure, we’re going to have to adapt and overcome, but that’s why we should be training in a multitude of situations and not just in a parking lot with no obstructions.

The Setback

Encountering a fire on a setback of a synagogue can be a challenging event and not our common bread-and-butter operation. We had limited access to the setback, and it was primarily an outside fire on its roof. A search inside the structure revealed no indication of extension, and we had to focus on accessing the fire area. As the hoseline was being stretched down the narrow alleyway, a size-up of accessing the setback roof was being performed. Since there was no way to ladder the front and then drop down to the setback because of the roof’s dome construction, access had to be from the rear.

The smoke was beginning to turn dark black, an indication the roofing tar was now igniting. Luckily, the firefighter assigned to the roof position informed us from the adjoining roof that he was able to look down and see piles of rubbish, leaves, and the roof tar engulfed.

When the engine members charged the line, they shot the water over the parapet into the sky so the water droplets would rain down and extinguish the bulk of the fire. We still realized we had to access the setback to overhaul the burnt flashing and roofing material, check for extension, and wash down the rest of the smoldering materials.

Looking around and seeing that we had our hands full because the 35-foot extension ladder was going to come up short with the narrow width step-down alleyway and the high setback roof, we started to formulate some other plans. One was to use a ladder as a bridge from the adjoining building, but that should be done with the ladder in the nested position for strength when we’d be crawling across it. The alleyway was longer than the 20-foot bedded section of the ladder, so we nixed that plan. Our next brainstorm was to hoist a lighter-weight 24-foot extension ladder up to the second floor of the adjoining building’s fire escape platform and then extend it over to the setback’s parapet. Once we hoisted it up to the second floor, some members extended it and leaned it over the alleyway to the setback’s parapet. Luckily, the ladder butted up right against the brick wall of the building and the ladder’s rails didn’t rest on the fire escape’s railing. The angle was perfect for climbing, and members ascended to the roof one at a time to begin overhaul and washdown operations.

The Moat

Pulling up to a first-floor fire with a victim trapped at a window and wrought iron fencing hindering portable ladder placement for removal from the same level can be difficult if you’ve never drilled on it or experienced it, especially when there is a sunken courtyard, alleyway, or moat behind the fencing and an eight-foot drop. Cutting the fence down with a saw is going to take time and effort; and, once the fence collapses, you have the chance of stepping in between the balusters and falling into the moat. If you are considering throwing an extension ladder, a roof ladder, or an A-frame or specialty ladder (multiple positioning) up and over the fence, try doing that alone. It may be difficult to do and, most likely, the ladder will get caught on the ornamental spikes on the top of the fence. In addition, the ladder’s tip will be suspended higher in the air and nowhere near the victim.

When you encounter a narrow-width moat and have front access stairs down into the sunken courtyard, you should already have a predetermined mindset. The A-frame ladder, which you can also use as an extension ladder, or a Fresno ladder (compact extension ladder) will probably work best. First, because of its compact size, you can easily transport it down the stairs and then extend it upward to the window. Second, you can place its base up against the wall for a substantial physical butt so it won’t kick out when you climb it. Sure, you might have to toss some bags of garbage or recycling out of the way; make sure you’re wearing gloves just in case a rat pops out of a bag.

Another benefit of the A-frame is you can carry it through a passageway with a low ceiling into another area for accessing first-floor windows, which may have security bars that may have to be removed, or you can transport it through a building and out to a yard. The attic/scissor/folding/suitcase ladder is another option, but some cons of this ladder are its narrow width and nonadjustable height. Removing a person from a window onto this ladder while you’re on it is difficult vs. using a wider ladder.

Remember, when you look up and you’re on the sunken alley’s ground, the basement windows are facing you and the first-floor windows are the next level up. Don’t give a radio report that you have fire coming from the second-floor windows when they’re actually on the first floor. It has been done before, and units have been caught in precarious positions because of it!

MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 33-year veteran of the fire service and a lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously, he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He is the lead instructor for the FDIC International Truck Essentials H.O.T. program. He wrote the Ladders and Ventilation chapters for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and II (Fire Engineering, 2009) and the Bread and Butter Portable Ladders DVD and is featured in “Training Minutes” truck company videos on www.FireEngineering.com.