Rope Questions

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wayne Benner Jr (Casper) on October 20, 2008 at 10:42am

Our trucks carry Utility rope -1 @ 50ft and 1 @ 100ft...They are coiled as us see in IFSTA..However Most of our guys are taught to carry 50ft of cheap utility rope on them in their pockets it will fit and not be that heavy. However we also preach there is no reason to be hoisting up a tool.. That tool should already be with a firefighter. My opinion no firefighter should be empty handed except the nozzleman.. Secondly if its life safety rope that is used strictly for our TRT.. It does not enter a burning or hazardous area. A vertical pull for a firefighter can be used on utilty as their should be not shock load on it.
Last but not least feed the rope out. Never drop a bag of rope from any distance when it comes to safety rope.

Permalink Reply by Michael Bricault on October 22, 2008 at 11:25am

What is carried on the rigs should really be dependent on the local response area.
In a large city like Albuquerque all Ladder Companies carry 3 -100 ft. sections of life line stored in red rope bags and 2 -100 ft. sections of utility line stored in blue rope bags. The Truck Companies also carry the usual assortment of ladder belts, carabineers and harnesses.
All Engine Companies carry 1 -100 ft. section of life line and 1 -100 ft. section of utility line.
Although escape/bailout kits are not issued as standard equipment to all firefighters, many firefighters do carry a personal escape system. Interestingly enough, these kits are very uniform in nature. So much so, that the department is considering making the escape kit standard issue equipment.

Permalink Reply by Chad Berg on January 11, 2009 at 2:35am

Our Ladder co. carries a full compliment of rope rescue equipment with stokes/litter basket, SKED, bridles, pulleys, lead climbing gear, and so on and so on.
As far as life ropes go, we carry a basic "over the embankment set up" that consists of a 200' rope.

in addition;

200' mainline bag
200' belay bag
200' dynamic lead climbing bag with cow tails
300' mainline bag
300' belay bag

For utility we carry;

(2) 100' dynamic ropes
(2) 100' static ropes and webbing, carabiners (vehicle stabilization bags)

Permalink Reply by Rick Fritz on January 11, 2009 at 12:13pm

150' of lifeline. 100' of utility (old lifeline)
High Point, N.C.More on Special Ops rigs.

Permalink Reply by Scott Kleinschmidt on January 15, 2009 at 7:47pm

All of our Engines/Quints/Platforms carry 150 life saftey and 150 utility we also use red and blue to seperate the two bags. We use intergated escape systems on our SCBA's, but most guys have their own escape systems they use do to the none user friendly SCBA system.

All specialized rope equipment is carried on the Heavy Rescue as well as the Hazmat Rig

As for throwing the bag........utility rope I am OK with, life saftey not recominded