Photos by author
Most fire departments will have an aerial device of some sort to assist with their response directives and operations. With aerial devices, there are a few choices to consider, depending on your needs—straight tip, platform, telescopic boom, and/or articulating boom. There is also the choice of having them rear or mid-mounted, providing different operational advantages.
There is a lot of information to know regarding the operation of each, and therefore is usually a specialized truck to be assigned to. Firefighter must know how to work and use the aerial device that they are on to be both effective and efficient with it.
- A Methodical Approach to Achieving a Productive Aerial Apparatus Position
- Firefighter Training Drill: Walk Out the Aerial Ladder
- Creating an Aerial Apparatus Program to Brag About
Below are some of the key areas that each firefighter needs to know about operating an aerial device. This involves both checking the aerial truck in as well as knowing its operational limits.
Walking Out the Aerial
When checking in our fire apparatus, we need to check every operational piece of equipment on the apparatus to ensure that it is in good working condition. On an aerial apparatus, the aerial ladder itself is a major component of the check in. Normally the ladder will be set up with the outriggers extended; all safety devices will be put in place, such as pins in the outriggers or all the “green” lights lit up on the control, indicating all outriggers are in place. Then the ladder will be raised to about 70° and extended all the way. The ladder will then be rotated all the way back to its original position. This operational check only verifies a small portion of the aerial ladder. The aerial ladder should be extended all the way out horizontally beside the truck at 0° or lower so that we can “walk” the ladder (photo 1). Walking the aerial ladder involves walking on top of it to the end and then walking under it back to conduct a visual and physical check of other components. Doing so will catch other problems that may be present.
Backup/Override Controls
Every aerial apparatus has override and backup controls in cases of emergencies or extreme situations. The backup controls are installed to allow for emergency operation of the aerial when the hydraulics fail, causing the aerial device to be suspended in position. The backup controls are powered by a small electrical motor that will operate the aerial device for a short period of time. Know how long that time will be. For some, it may be only five minutes or longer, depending upon the manufacturer. Test the backup controls every once in a while to ensure they work.
Override controls are available to allow the operator to override the system when necessary. There are many safety systems in place in aerial devices that are essential to the operation of it. However, there are times when they may need to be circumvented. These controls are not always located in an obvious location, so knowing where they are is a start. In addition, be familiar with how they work and the order they must be operated in. Always refer to the manufacturer’s manuals for directions on how and when to use.
Knowing the Scrub Area
There is an area between the aerial apparatus and the building known as the scrub area (photo 2). This area is the distance required for the aerial ladder to work. There are times when the aerial ladder must be used in a horizontal position and below 0°, such as for water stream application or for access into the platform or onto the straight ladder tip. When the ladder is completely bedded, it will be a certain length. This length will dictate the scrub area needed between the apparatus and the building. This ensures that if the aerial ladder must be moved 180° horizontally in front of the building, it will have the room to do so. Parking the apparatus too close to the building will eliminate the scrub area. Take a moment during a training night or day to measure the bedded length of the aerial ladder and then figure out how best to gauge accurately that distance needed when arriving at a building.
Knowing the Outrigger Length
The outriggers that accompany an aerial are as diverse as the devices themselves. Some aerial trucks will have two sets of outriggers, some only one set. They also vary by length based upon the manufacturer’s design for the aerial truck itself. There will be times when the outrigger will need to be placed right next to another fire truck, next to a building, next to a curb of the roadway, or with no space at all—this is referred to short jacking the truck. Short jacking the outriggers can be done on one side or the other based upon the available space to work with. This will reduce the working limits of the aerial device on one side.
Know what the extended length of the outriggers will be so that when positioning the aerial truck, the distance needed can be gauged by the driver. This will also assist with the throwing down of the pads for the outriggers without guessing where they need to go. One tip is to use a six-foot roof hook as a measuring tool. In photo 3, the six-foot roof hook is the perfect length to measure out for this specific outrigger.
The best way to get to know your aerial device is to use it on a regular basis. This will involve daily truck check time and training and practice with the aerial apparatus.
Mark van der Feyst has been in the fire service since 1999 and is a firefighter with the Fort Gratiot (MI) Fire Department. He is an international instructor teaching in Canada, the United States, and India, and at FDIC. He is also the lead author of Residential Fire Rescue (Fire Engineering Books & Video). He can be contacted at Mark@FireStarTraining.com.
