Proactive Ladder Usage- Part One

Regardless of which side you fall on in the debate of truckie vs. engine firefighter, it should be noted that both may have a fire ground responsibility to throw ladders. This does not seem to be widely put into practice, however. Especially for those arriving on an engine, the tunnel vision of only stretching hose lines must be overcome. Ground ladder usage cannot die on the chalkboard.

Aggressive interior operations need to be supported by aggressive exterior operations.

I hope that by asking simple questions, we can come up with simple answers to remedy a general lack of proactive ground ladder usage. This will take place over the course of my next three posts.

Who is expected to deploy ladders?

All personnel involved in operations should have both the working knowledge of and ability to throw ground ladders. Notice this is not limited to those assigned to ladder companies. This is a given considering some jurisdictions do not have a single aerial apparatus within an hour's drive. Under many circumstances, a traditional ladder company, or even several ladder companies, could not be expected to solely handle the total number of rescues required.

Part of our scene size-up should include the need for ground ladder usage. This should be done both according to current conditions and the potential for future fire progression. While many departments have standing orders regarding who is ultimately responsible for completing a 360, everyone should take the time to perform their own size-up.

What is reason for deploying ladders?

Our absolute goal on any incident is life safety. It is commonly argued that an aggressive interior fire attack will have the greatest impact on life safety. In most instances, I would agree. There is no doubt that the IDLH atmosphere can be eliminated fairly quickly once the fire has been extinguished. We run into trouble though when we rely on fire attack to solve all of our problems. An expanded view of the incident has to be considered prior to giving sole focus to extinguishment.

Take for example the fire that occurred in January 2007 at the Castle West Apartments in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The first arriving companies reached the complex to find dozens of citizens trapped at windows and on balconies due to fire conditions in the common, interior hallways. Forty occupants were rescued using ground ladders by the first three companies on-scene. A total of 85 rescues were made by ground ladders through the duration of the incident (Brush, 2014)1.

Precious time would have been wasted had the first arriving engine companies concerned themselves with pulling lines and establishing water supplies. Instead, "all hands" were needed to throw ladders. Beyond the nightmare scenario of heavy fire conditions in a multi-family dwelling with nearly one hundred occupants trapped, ladder usage is often a difference maker at fires in single-family residences. Both civilians and firefighters alike are safer with aggressive ladder deployment. For this reason, tactics such as "Vent, Enter, Search (VES, VEIS)" should be rehearsed with the same frequency and tenacity as any other. It should be commonplace, and not the exception, to have ladders properly positioned.

When should we deploy ladders?

We seem to be able to quickly throw ladders for roof operations. Why is it then that we struggle to get them deployed for tasks unrelated to cutting a hole in the roof? Perhaps it is because roof ops is the one scenario where it has been clearly defined that ladders are going to be used. They provide both access to the roof of the structure, and in some cases, the only stable footing once we are there. While it is correct to utilize our ground ladders during roof ops, we cannot let ourselves limit their usage solely to this task.

Our apparatus are equipped with ladders of varying lengths and widths for a reason. Each has their purpose, and we have to be willing to explore the options available to each. Take for example the companies that carry a Fresno ladder with the intentions of deploying it to garden level windows instead of only labeling it as an attic ladder. Elevated points of egress do not need to be several stories high for a ladder to be appropriate. Knowing the capabilities, and perhaps more importantly, the limitations, of the ladders carried on our units will only aide in our responses.

Due to the significant life hazards present, a rescue plan should specifically be established for a fire in a multi-family dwelling (for the purposes of this discussion, it is appropriate to place hotels and nursing homes in the category of multi-family dwelling, as well). That plan should include having multiple ladders to the structure early into the incident. Consider that within a single apartment building, the number of civilians present could be nearly equal to that of an entire block of single-family residences. The risk of civilian casualties cannot be overstated. For the vast majority of apartments and hotels, at least half of the units in the structure will also be located above ground level. The common stairwells and fire escapes at these structures can quickly be overcome by fire conditions. A study completed by the United States Fire Administration using data from multi-family residential building fires between the years 2008 and 2010 showed that 31% of fires in these residences extended past the unit of origin (USFA, 2012)2. Reactive ladder deployment may prove to be inadequate.

In short, the answer to "when should we throw ladders?" is "often". If nothing else comes across clearly, I hope to at least convey that any structure, including those that are a single story, can be a candidate for the aggressive use of ground ladders.

Stay tuned for Part Two

1. Brush, Brian. (2014). Out of Reach? Evaluating the risk for ground ladder rescues at multi-family dwelling fires. Lakewood, CO. http://www.usfa.fema.gov/pdf/efop/efo48567.pdf.
2. United States Fire Administration. (2012). Multi Family Residential Building Fires (2008-2010). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.