Nature: Drill / Training – Ladder Truck Operations – Above & Below Grade Access Concerns

Location: Station #1 – Oak Orchard Facility

Over the past week, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company has conducted its training evolutions with the ladder truck with access difficult to access areas, i.e., parapet walls, above ground and below ground surfaces while accessing persons needing assistance. 

These simulated activities placed emphasis with ladder truck operations and placing persons in stokes baskets with different packaging on top of the aerial ladder bucket or on bottom of the aerial ladder bucket with appropriate harnesses.  Difficult to access areas – i.e., Weis Market facilities, Giant Food facilities, and other shopping centers require emergency response personnel to train regularly to reinforce the basic skills and techniques.

Firefighters exiting the bucket will have to step over the parapet for roof access. High parapets will make it difficult to get on or off the roof from all of types of ladders. Firefighters may have to straddle the top of the wall and lower themselves down to the roof utilizing other specialized equipment.

Illustrated herewith are a few photographs of the activities.