In accordance with the new department Best Practices Guide, Alert Fire Co. drilled on Sunday morning to requalify its aerial apparatus operators.  Each apparatus operator is required to complete and annual recertification to demonstrate proficiency on the equipment.  Proficiency with the departments’ aerial apparatus goes far beyond just being able to safely drive across borough streets.  The proper deployment of the aerial apparatus involves the ability to properly position the apparatus with respect to overhead obstructions such as trees, wires, and signs along with building setback / position and being able to safely operate the truck’s stabilizers and aerial device.  The requalification process helps ensure that our members remain proficient and able to perform under a variety of emergency conditions.

As you can see in the photographs long before the aerial ladder is raised the truck must be properly positioned and stabilized to prevent ladder failure or toppling.  The aerial operator must block the front wheels to prevent rolling on inclines before beginning the process to deploy the stabilizing jacks or outriggers.  These stabilizers are designed to enhance the vehicle’s stability as the ladder is raised which naturally changes its center of gravity.  In addition to increasing the width of the vehicle base they also are used to compensate for uneven road surfaces.  It is of paramount importance that the base of the aerial ladder (known as the turntable) be set level.  While it may look as if the ladder truck is uneven with one set of tires on the ground and another in the air as shown in the photos this is sometimes necessary to ensure the turntable is level before operating the ladder.  The aerial operator uses bubble levels (inclinometers) mounted on the truck to properly adjust the stabilizer jacks.

As shown in the photos when the stabilizer jacks are fully set the effective width of the ladder truck is much larger than its travel width when you may see it driving down the street.  It takes just over 16 feet of clear space to fully and properly set the stabilizer jacks to safely operate the ladder truck.  Depending on site conditions and vehicle parking this can be a tight fit for the aerial operator when responding to a fire emergency.  To facilitate apparatus access and safe ladder deployment the Fire Department has designated areas in parking lots and around buildings as fire zones or fire lanes.  These areas are crucial to the safe deployment of fire apparatus for extinguishment and rescue.  We ask that you always abide by restrictions against parking in areas designated as fire zones or fire lanes.  These spaces are truly necessary to ensure safe and effective operation of fire apparatus, including the large aerial trucks, when responding to fires and other emergencies.