Aerial Apparatus Positioning

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Christopher A. Barry, Sr. on March 23, 2008 at 7:16pm

Here's the spot that was available to the second-due truck. The engine company in front of the fire building was first due and made the inital fire attack with a pre-connected 1 3/4" handline. What considerations are you making as you are now on "short-final" to the fire building? Thoughts or comments?

Permalink Reply by Christopher A. Barry, Sr. on March 23, 2008 at 8:48pm

Here's the result of the spot of the second-due truck. The 75' RMA is fully extended. Remember, the stated vertical reach does not equal the actual horizontal reach.

Permalink Reply by Michael Bricault (ret) on March 23, 2008 at 10:25pm

Hi Chris. In Albuquerque we address this issue in the training phase. During driver school, all drivers and those firefighters that will upgrade to drive, are taught home to spot and position apparatus. This is reviewed again during the company officer school and in the study material for promotion to officer.
As to the specifics of high target areas, that is addressed on a case by case basis. And yes, the best thing an apparatus operator, especially ladder drivers, can do is to slow down when approaching the scene and look for the spot.
The first due ladder takes the front of the occupancy in a position that maximizes the scrub area for the aerial device. The second due ladder is usually looking for the rear of the occupancy. The first due engine will take the "A" exposure in a position that will not interfere with the responding ladder companies. Next in engines will grab plugs and lay in. Ambulances will stage away from the scene in such a manner as to facilitate a rapid exit from the scene. The Batt. Chiefs will generally look for a spot that allows them to see the scene without interfering in apparatus placement.
High target areas such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, hotels, police stations/ prisoner holding/the jail, etc are pre-planned by the first in companies and this information is then disseminated to the surrounding companies. There are also general pre-plan guidelines in the department s.o.g.'s to guide all companies in their decision making.

Permalink Reply by Christopher A. Barry, Sr. on March 24, 2008 at 1:41pm

Michael:

You have identified an area in which my department could certainly improve: apparatus PLACEMENT instruction in addition to apparatus operation instruction. We have for as long as I can determine left the placement instruction to the individual company officer without much thought to standardization. Our senior firefighters assigned to truck companies do an excellent job at positioning overall, but we could certainly do better in the way of availing our younger members of their expertise in order to approve overall fireground proficiency.

As in your department, we do spend a significant amount of time pre-planning apparatus placement at target hazard occupancies, and as you would expect, encounter little difficulty in that area.

Be Safe,

Chris

Permalink Reply by Yelrow Ekim on April 4, 2008 at 8:22pm

Here is a shot of Medford Ladder 2 at a 2nd a few weeks back..... In a alley..(Private way)....

Permalink Reply by Yelrow Ekim on April 4, 2008 at 8:32pm

Shot of Boston L 26 at Box 2371....Mission Hill section of the city.... fire was in a 3 story wood.... in back of a 3 story wood... L 26 backed in the driveway.. threw the stick and opened up the roof...

Permalink Reply by Yelrow Ekim on April 20, 2008 at 12:41pm

Here is a shot of Cambridge Ladder 1 operating at the fire in Brookline the other day..... They made the rear of the building by back up a driveway into a back yard and made the roof.... After they were in place a branch fell off a tree and pulled the service off the house to the right... Getting in was easy..they had to wait for the power company to move the service to the house before they could leave...

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