drill of the month positioning aerial apparatus december 2009 maryland fire and rescue institute

Drill of the MonthPositioning Aerial Apparatus

December 2009

Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

Maryland Fire and Rescue InstituteMaryland Fire and Rescue Institute Drill of the Month - Drill of the Month - 22

Student Performance Objective Student Performance Objective

At the conclusion of this session, the aerial apparatus operator will be able to list the general considerations relating to aerial apparatus positioning, and the factors that influence the apparatus positioning decision, and the operator will demonstrate the proper positioning of the aerial apparatus for a given fireground scenario..


Overview Overview

IntroductionIntroduction

Safety considerationsSafety considerations

General considerations effecting aerial apparatus General considerations effecting aerial apparatus positioningpositioning

Tactical considerations effecting aerial apparatus Tactical considerations effecting aerial apparatus positioningpositioning

Spotting considerationsSpotting considerations

StagingStaging

Practical evolutionPractical evolution


IntroductionIntroductionLocal standard operating procedures and Local standard operating procedures and guidelines.guidelines.Generally there are no specific rules that hold Generally there are no specific rules that hold true for all fireground situations. true for all fireground situations. Ensure safe and functional use, consider:Ensure safe and functional use, consider:

– department standard operating procedures;department standard operating procedures;– weather conditions;weather conditions;– road structures and conditions;road structures and conditions;– obstructions;obstructions;– tactical operations to be performed;tactical operations to be performed;– building designs; andbuilding designs; and– fire conditions.fire conditions.


Safety ConsiderationsSafety Considerations

Safe apparatus driving, backing and positioning Safe apparatus driving, backing and positioning techniques.techniques.

– Attitude.Attitude.– Defensive driving.Defensive driving.– Driving in adverse weather conditions.Driving in adverse weather conditions.Moving traffic while positioning. Personnel may Moving traffic while positioning. Personnel may be continuously obtaining equipment from the be continuously obtaining equipment from the apparatus throughout the duration of the apparatus throughout the duration of the incident.incident.Watch for falling debris.Watch for falling debris.Avoid contact with energized electric power Avoid contact with energized electric power lines.lines.


General Considerations Effecting Aerial General Considerations Effecting Aerial Apparatus PositioningApparatus Positioning

Position the apparatus in a position to minimize Position the apparatus in a position to minimize the required reach and operation of the aerial at the required reach and operation of the aerial at low angles.low angles.

Avoid uneven terrain when possible.Avoid uneven terrain when possible.

Avoid positioning the apparatus where the aerial Avoid positioning the apparatus where the aerial device will be required to operate beyond its device will be required to operate beyond its structural and physical limitations.structural and physical limitations.


General Considerations Effecting Aerial General Considerations Effecting Aerial Apparatus PositioningApparatus Positioning

Avoid positioning the apparatus where the aerial Avoid positioning the apparatus where the aerial device will be exposed to high temperatures and device will be exposed to high temperatures and direct flame contact.direct flame contact.Avoid positioning where the aerial must operate Avoid positioning where the aerial must operate perpendicular to the truck longitudinal axis. This perpendicular to the truck longitudinal axis. This is the weakest loading position.is the weakest loading position.Try to place the aerial device turntable in direct Try to place the aerial device turntable in direct line with the desired target. This minimizes line with the desired target. This minimizes reach and twisting of the aerial device.reach and twisting of the aerial device.


Tactical Considerations affecting Tactical Considerations affecting apparatus positioningapparatus positioning

Rescue.Rescue.– Place the turntable near a building corner.Place the turntable near a building corner.– If a rescue is area threatened by fire, position If a rescue is area threatened by fire, position

hoselines to protect the victims, crew and hoselines to protect the victims, crew and equipment.equipment.

– Consider wind conditions;Consider wind conditions;Place the aerial ladder up-wind from the Place the aerial ladder up-wind from the window area or roof area where a rescue window area or roof area where a rescue situation is anticipated.situation is anticipated.When a rescue attempt is being made from a When a rescue attempt is being made from a down-wind position, the operator may have down-wind position, the operator may have difficulty seeing through smoke to affect the difficulty seeing through smoke to affect the rescue.rescue.



Positioning for access to upper floors.Positioning for access to upper floors.– Building coverage and aerial-device reach should Building coverage and aerial-device reach should

be maximized and up-wind whenever possible.be maximized and up-wind whenever possible.– Consider utilities on the aerial device. Such as, Consider utilities on the aerial device. Such as,

providing water for attack lines, lighting and providing water for attack lines, lighting and electrical power.electrical power.

– Aerial devices can be used as a means of escape Aerial devices can be used as a means of escape for crews operating inside the fire building. for crews operating inside the fire building. Consider the fire location within the building and Consider the fire location within the building and be prepared to position the apparatus and aerial be prepared to position the apparatus and aerial for use by interior crews.for use by interior crews.

– Apply many of the same principals discussed with Apply many of the same principals discussed with rescue operations.rescue operations.



– Proper apparatus position influences the Proper apparatus position influences the effectiveness of ventilation operations. effectiveness of ventilation operations.

– Consider equipment needed.Consider equipment needed.– Position close to the location where ventilation is Position close to the location where ventilation is

to be performed.to be performed.– Consider roof collapse or the need to evacuate Consider roof collapse or the need to evacuate

the roof. Watch youtube.com: the roof. Watch youtube.com: http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm1WQbf8Xq0 =Zm1WQbf8Xq0

– Extend the ladder 6’ above the roof level.Extend the ladder 6’ above the roof level.– If the aerial is intended to be used to assist with If the aerial is intended to be used to assist with

horizontal ventilation, follow the rules for ground horizontal ventilation, follow the rules for ground ladder use.ladder use.



Fire suppression (elevated master streams).Fire suppression (elevated master streams).– Do not use if crews are inside in the building.Do not use if crews are inside in the building.– Maximize reach into the building.Maximize reach into the building.– Deflect the fire stream from the ceiling to Deflect the fire stream from the ceiling to

extend the reach into the building.extend the reach into the building.– Use until the bulk of the involved fire is Use until the bulk of the involved fire is

blackened.blackened.– Continually monitor the building integrity for Continually monitor the building integrity for

collapse scenarios.collapse scenarios.



Attitude of safety.Attitude of safety.

Surface conditions.Surface conditions.– Avoid positioning the apparatus on soft soil. Avoid positioning the apparatus on soft soil. – Use caution on loose gravel Use caution on loose gravel

Weather conditions.Weather conditions.– Icy conditions may require rock salt, anti-skid Icy conditions may require rock salt, anti-skid

material or sandmaterial or sand– In extreme cold weather conditions, consider In extreme cold weather conditions, consider

de-icing fluids.de-icing fluids.– Moderate to high winds can affect the stability.Moderate to high winds can affect the stability.



Electrical hazards/Overhead obstructions.Electrical hazards/Overhead obstructions.– Electric power lines present a serious risk.Electric power lines present a serious risk.– Avoid coincidental contact with the apparatus Avoid coincidental contact with the apparatus

and the ground.and the ground.– Trees and other overhead obstructions may Trees and other overhead obstructions may

effect operations.effect operations.Angle and location of aerial device operation.Angle and location of aerial device operation.

– Consider the manufacture and unique Consider the manufacture and unique apparatus design.apparatus design.

– Stability is improved in line with the Stability is improved in line with the longitudinal axis of the aerial apparatus.longitudinal axis of the aerial apparatus.

– Tractor-trailer apparatus should be Tractor-trailer apparatus should be positioned to increase stability by jackknifing.positioned to increase stability by jackknifing.


Spotting ConsiderationsSpotting Considerations

– Stresses are induced when the ladder rungs Stresses are induced when the ladder rungs are operated nonparallel to the ground.are operated nonparallel to the ground.

– Ladder stresses can occur from one or a Ladder stresses can occur from one or a combination of the following:combination of the following:

Excessive degree of angle;Excessive degree of angle;Supported versus unsupported positions;Supported versus unsupported positions;Length of aerial device extension;Length of aerial device extension;Personnel on the aerial device;Personnel on the aerial device;Nozzle reaction;Nozzle reaction;Weight on the aerial device;Weight on the aerial device;Heat exposure; andHeat exposure; and

Ice on the ladder. Ice on the ladder.



– Approaching from the uphill, the aerial device Approaching from the uphill, the aerial device should be operated off the back of the truck.should be operated off the back of the truck.

– Approaching from the downhill side, the Approaching from the downhill side, the aerial should be operated over the cab of the aerial should be operated over the cab of the truck.truck.

– Avoid low operating angles for the aerial Avoid low operating angles for the aerial device.device.



Fire building conditions.Fire building conditions.– Extensive fire damage or buildings in poor Extensive fire damage or buildings in poor

condition, before the incidence of the fire, condition, before the incidence of the fire, may be subject to collapse.may be subject to collapse.

– Consider fire spread and exposures. Consider fire spread and exposures. Position the apparatus so as to avoid Position the apparatus so as to avoid trapping the apparatus and crew.trapping the apparatus and crew.

– Consider falling debris when positioning the Consider falling debris when positioning the apparatus.apparatus.



– A building collapse zone should be A building collapse zone should be considered equal at least to the height of the considered equal at least to the height of the building.building.

– Recognize the indicators that a building may Recognize the indicators that a building may be unstable.be unstable.

Bulging walls;Bulging walls;Presence of stars or large bolts and Presence of stars or large bolts and washers on the exterior wall at the floor washers on the exterior wall at the floor line;line;Large cracks in the exterior;Large cracks in the exterior;Falling bricks, blocks or mortar, andFalling bricks, blocks or mortar, andInterior collapses.Interior collapses.


StagingStaging

Level I Staging. Level I Staging. – initial response and is used on every initial response and is used on every

response.response.– Follow local standard operating procedures.Follow local standard operating procedures.

Level II Staging.Level II Staging.– Used on larger incidents.Used on larger incidents.– Located at a remote location, generally near Located at a remote location, generally near

the incident, where they can quickly arrive the incident, where they can quickly arrive once called for.once called for.


Practical EvolutionPractical EvolutionStage the apparatus away from buildings.Stage the apparatus away from buildings.Assign a crew; the operator shall be directed to Assign a crew; the operator shall be directed to proceed toward the building area.proceed toward the building area.Enroute to the demonstration area, the operator will Enroute to the demonstration area, the operator will be given a fireground tactical scenario to position the be given a fireground tactical scenario to position the apparatus for operation.apparatus for operation.Based on the given scenario, the operator shall Based on the given scenario, the operator shall position the aerial apparatus in the most reasonable position the aerial apparatus in the most reasonable or best location to accomplish the tactical objective or best location to accomplish the tactical objective assigned.assigned.When the operator has progressed through the basic When the operator has progressed through the basic scenarios, additional obstacles may be placed in the scenarios, additional obstacles may be placed in the area to simulate parked vehicles, overhead wires and area to simulate parked vehicles, overhead wires and obstructions and varying fire conditions.obstructions and varying fire conditions.


Practical Evolution Evaluation CriteriaPractical Evolution Evaluation Criteria

Practical evaluation considerations;Practical evaluation considerations;– Turntable aligned with the target as closely Turntable aligned with the target as closely

as possible;as possible;– Aerial reach and extension, practical for the Aerial reach and extension, practical for the

scenario given;scenario given;– Apparatus on stable ground; andApparatus on stable ground; and– Apparatus positioned correctly for the given Apparatus positioned correctly for the given

scenario.scenario.


Student Performance ObjectiveStudent Performance Objective

At the conclusion of this session, the aerial apparatus operator will be able to list the general considerations relating to aerial apparatus positioning, and the factors that influence the apparatus positioning decision, and the operator will be able to demonstrate the proper positioning of the aerial apparatus for a given fireground scenario


ReviewReview

IntroductionIntroduction

Safety considerationsSafety considerations

General considerations effecting aerial apparatus General considerations effecting aerial apparatus positioningpositioning

Tactical considerations effecting aerial apparatus Tactical considerations effecting aerial apparatus positioningpositioning


StagingStaging

Practical evolutionPractical evolution

drill of the month positioning aerial apparatus december 2009 maryland fire and rescue institute

Documents

apparatus positioning

aerial apparatus operator

apparatus positioning

rescue institute drill

rescue institute slide

aerial ladder

proper positioning

positioning techniques