Wednesday January, 29 2025

Nature: Firefighter Basic Skills – Ropes & Knots

Location: Station #1 – Oak Orchard

On Wednesday, January 29^th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company hosted its monthly in-service training at the Oak Orchard facility and taught Firefighter Basic Skills – Ropes & Knots with Delaware State Fire School Instructor – Glenn Marshall.

A firefighter needs to know how to tie knots to utilize their ropes fully, and this makes doing their job a lot quicker and easier. A firefighter needs to know how to tie seven certain knots.  This training is intended for the firefighter to be able to apply basic use of ropes and knots.

The firefighter will be able to accomplish the following:

• Compare and contrast the characteristics of life-safety rope and utility rope.
• Summarize criteria for reusing life-safety rope.
• Describe rope materials. 
• Describe types of rope construction. 
• Summarize basic guidelines for rope maintenance. 
• Explain procedures for storing life-safety rope. 
• Describe webbing and webbing construction. 
• Describe parts of a rope and considerations in tying a knot. 
• Describe knot characteristics and knot elements. 
• Describe characteristics of knots commonly used in the fire service. 
• Select commonly used rope hardware for specific applications. 
• Summarize hoisting safety considerations. 
• Discuss rescue rope and harness. 
• Inspect, clean, and store rope.
• Coil and uncoil a rope.