Size up, Staging, and Spotting

Question 1

Size up…

Answer 1

Where is the call
Type of structure
Time of day
Aerial will be used for rescue, water tower, vent ops, exposure protection, equipment on apparatus

Question 2

4 Steps to putting aerial into operation…

Answer 2

Scan
Plan
Stablize
Raise

Question 3

Scan for factors that influence ladder placement…

Answer 3

Building and fire conditions
Powerlines
Wind and obstacles
Supporting ground conditions
Other apparatus onscene
Condition hazards - over, under and around

Question 4

Building condition

Answer 4

Size
Height
Occupancy
Construction
Distance from street

Question 5

Collapse Zone…

Answer 5

The collapse zone is calculated at 15 ft per floor or 1.5x the building height

Question 6

Powerlines…

Answer 6

Stay 7m away from all power lines
Have Enmax shut down grid if necessary
Lines can be obscured by trees or smoke

Question 7

Wind…

Answer 7

In excessive winds operate perpendicular to the rungs above 50 km/h
If possible, stage do the wind is behind the rescuer. This way the wind loads the ladder in the designed direction.

Question 8

Planning for ladder position…

Answer 8

Plan from tip to turntable
Minimize ladder stress and overload by spotting
Judge the distance to the objective and place turntable accordingly

Question 9

LADDER OVERLOADING

Answer 9

REDUCE/CORRECT LADDER OVERLOADING BY…
REDUCE THE LOAD AT THE TIP
RETRACT THE LADDER
RAISE THE ANGLE OF THE LADDER

CONSTANTLY MONITOR THE OVERLOAD GAUGE

Question 10

Why to stabilize the apparatus…

Answer 10

Widen the base and prevent tip over
Compensate for grades
Take the bulge out of the tires
Avoid compression of the suspension

Question 11

Chocking the wheels…

Answer 11

Level ground - both sides
On a grade - downhill side

Question 12

Stabilization Guidelines - Standard

Answer 12

STANDARD Outriggers on Smeal
On grades 0-5 degrees - 100% capacity
On grades 5-7 degrees - reduced by 50% capacity if the turntable is levelled within 3.5 degrees
On grades above 7 degrees - operation is not recommend

Question 13

Stabilization Guidelines - Deep Penetrating

Answer 13

DEEP PENETRATING Outriggers on Smeal
On grades 0-5 degrees - 100% capacity
On grades 5-7 degrees - 100% capacity if the turntable is levelled within 3.5 degrees
On grades above 7 degrees - reduced by 50% capacity if the turntable is levelled within 3.5 degrees
On grades above 9 degrees operation is not recommended

Question 14

Deploying Stabilizers and Leveling

Answer 14

Shortjack operations can be used where space is limited or in an emergency where the ladder must be raised quickly to provide rescue or other important fireground ops. Beware the ladder will only rotate over the supported side. Always extend the stabilizers as far as possible.

Question 15

Short Jack on Smeal aerials

Answer 15

Outriggers can be deployed right out of the bed.
Limit switches will not allow rotation over the short jacked side more then 15 degrees.

Question 16

Raise the ladder to the objective

Answer 16

Perform one function at a time
Rotate to your visual side, use the upper and lower rail as a sight line
Lower into a rescue objective to avoid shock loading the ladder
Operate smoothly as as to avoid whipping the ladder

Question 17

Operator Responsibilites

Answer 17

Keep focused on your task
You must be at the pedestal in control while firefighters are on the ladder or a rescue is being performed
Monitor ground conditions
Stage tools
Provide secondary means of egress via ground ladders or another aerial