BY JERROD VANLANDINGHAM
It is 2 a.m., and Engine 3 is first to arrive at a fully involved detached garage fire with a single-family exposure on sides B and D. Engine 3 sets up in front of the garage to deploy the deck gun for a quick knockdown prior to stretching handlines. The hydrant is within 15 feet of the engine; the firefighter secures the supply while the company officer conducts a 360 and continues ordering resources. The engineer climbs to the top side of the engine to position the deck gun prior to opening the valve. The engineer climbs down to reach the pump panel and open the valve and set the pressure. The engineer climbs back up and begins to sweep the fire stream from side to side for maximum effect. At this point, the engineer begins to lose his footing. He reaches for the deck gun handle, but the deck gun is not locked in place. It spins freely, turning the 1,500-gpm stream into his chest and pushing him off the back of the engine, causing him to fall 10 feet and land on top of a charged five-inch supply line. The engineer suffered a broken wrist and elbow, costing him and the city time and money, not to mention his pain and suffering.
 (1) Handrails need to remain clear of hose. (Photos by author.) |
This incident happened on my watch as acting battalion chief; subsequently, I was given the task of researching and studying “topside safety.” As a result, our fire departent is committed to training on topside safety and finding new ways to eliminate topside operations all together.
 (2) There is no room for footing in this configuration. |
Many of the fire engines being put into service these days have more space for storage. In so doing, fire apparatus have increased in length, width, and height. Higher apparatus has made it more difficult for firefighters to deploy hose, ladders, and other equipment. We have given up, in many cases, tailboard length and climbing configurations that have made it easier for deployment of equipment.
 (3) This tailboard is just over 15 inches. |
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 40 percent of the 37,000 fireground injuries categorized as strains and sprains in 2002 were the result of working off fire apparatus. NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, was established to help eliminate some of the fireground injuries through apparatus design and specification. NFPA 1901 recommends that firefighters do not work topside as much as possible. Our industry is seeing many technological advances in fire apparatus development; fire service personnel need to take an active part in developing specifications for designs that will make it safer to work from our fire apparatus.
SOLUTIONS
The following is a list of long-term solutions, short-term fixes, and general guidelines our fire department has begun to implement since our “topside” mishap a few years ago.
Long-Term Solutions
 (4) Hosebeds are higher on today’s apparatus. |
- The NFPA has been determined that it is safest not to be on top of the fire apparatus under emergency conditions. We recommend that departments continue to use fire engines that have a remote-control operated deck gun that can be put into service from the ground.
- We recommend further study of ergonomic hosebeds that can be lowered all the way down to the ground off the back of the engine.
- Specifications for future engines should include larger tailboards with a stair-step configuration. This provides more stability for the firefighter while climbing to the top or loading hose. A foldout tailboard system could work if the length of the engine is in question.
Short-Term Fixes
 (5) Use a ladder to climb. |
- Convert manual deck guns to remote-control deck guns.
- Run the length of the hosebed with a collapsible waist-high guardrail.
- Consider a hardtop foldable hose cover door that would allow personnel to stand on one side while loading hose in the other.
- Replace the diamond plate on the topside deck and tailboard with a slip-resistant surface.
General Guidelines
- Use caution while climbing.
- While operating a manual deck gun, operate from the side that gives the firefighter the most room to maneuver.
- While operating a manual deck gun, be sure to lock the gun in place once it is in its desirable direction of flow.
- While operating a deck gun, stay out of the stream flow.
- While operating a manual deck gun and if availability of personnel allows, have one person down and one person up, to eliminate one person’s climbing up and down during stressful conditions (NFPA 1710, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments, staffing levels).
- Crawl instead of walk while top side.
- Use a ladder to climb if the backside of the engine is cluttered with hose, lighting, and discharges.
- Large-diameter hose in the bed creates an obstacle if it is not loaded deep enough. Make sure the load does not interfere with the handles on the bed dividers.
- Use proper lighting when necessary.
 (6) This is a limited climbing configuration. |
Not all fire departments have the same type of equipment and apparatus. Use this information as a guideline for operations within your department. Hopefully, by sharing this type of information, we can help reduce the number of firefighter injuries while working top side of our apparatus.
JERROD VANLANDINGHAM, a member of the fire service since 1993, is a lieutenant in the Longmont (CO) Fire Department, assigned to an engine company. He has been a company officer since 2000. He has a BA in communication and is working toward an MBA/PA. He is a certified fire officer, fire inspector, hazardous materials technician, and EMT.
