Ladder opps

[Guest DADAY]

Just curious to what some ladder companies are responsable for and what equipment they carry on the truck.

[mfc2257 464]

Truck (Ladder) companies are responsible for but not limited to:

Search & Rescue (both interior and via aerial device)

Forceable entry

Verticle and horizontal ventilation

Utility control

Elevator control

Salvage

Overhaul

Vehicle Extrication (in career departments general extrication usually falls on the responsibility of the truck company and heavy rescues are typically a special call)

This summer I hosted a drill between Millwood E-245 (50 FT Telesquirt the old TS-2) and Chappaqua TL-27 at the Westorchard school. In my drill outline I summerized by saying "If the truck company has done it's job well the IC will know the following things. 1) Access has been gained in all necessary areas to the structure so that all hands my enter and work as ordered. 2) The building will have been searched and clear of all civilian victims 3) If ordered the roof will have been opened in conjunction with windows to allow the building to breath and the engine crew to better extinguist the fire 4) The building will have been laddered on all sides to provide to the extent that it is possible a laddered escape route wherever it is needed 5) The building will have been overhauled and searched for extention to the point where the IC is not concerned with a re-kindle. 6) All possible forensic evidence of arson has been preserved for C&O to work with. 7) To the extent that it is possible, every effort has been made to preserve and protect the property of the tennant from the ansulary destruction that fire extinguishment brings such as water and smoke damage.

Truck company equipment includes but is not limited to: 115ft or more of ground ladders (usually). Typical hand tools like halligans, pick heads etc. Pike poles of various sizes. Roof vent equipment like Quick Vent or Cutters edge OR both saws. K-12 saws with multiple type blades for cement, wood, metal etc. Tarps for salvage. Hydraulic rescue and forceable entry tools. Fans both gas and electric. Rescue equipment for medical, vehicle, fire, and water rescue. Stokes basket. Back Board.

Essentially a typical truck company is a rolling tool box. The only time a truck company has water involved is when the ladder pipe is flowing water. The rest of the time the truck company is using tools and equipment to help with the extinguishment of the fire. It's there job to make sure the engine company has an open and vented building to work in, and to make sure that the occupants are safely out of the building. Often times truck crews are operating in the building w/o a hand line to protect them while they are searching.

Although Millwood doesn't have a "real truck", when I make a bi-annual drill for my guys, I always stress that we may be asked to staff someone elses truck at a job for extra man power or to relieve a crew that needs a break. Not having a Truck doesn't mean that you shouldn't know how to operate in the capacity of a truck company.

Edward Smith

Captain (2254)

Millwood Fire Company