Fire Service Ground Ladders and Structural Components

Overview and Operational Uses of Ground Ladders

  • General Significance: Fire service ground ladders are a critical component of emergency equipment utilized during incident operations.

  • Apparatus Transport: Ground ladders are regularly carried on:

    • Pumpers

    • Aerial ladder apparatus

    • Other specialized fire service apparatus

  • Personnel Requirements: Ground ladders require between one to six firefighters to carry and raise into position, depending directly on the specific length of the ladder.

  • Primary Operational Access: Ground ladders are primarily utilized to gain access to:

    • Upper floors of buildings

    • Roofs of structural buildings

  • Below-Grade Applications: Ground ladders can also be deployed to reach areas below ground level, including:

    • Storm drains

    • Trenches

    • Pits

Firefighter I Certification Requirements

  • Required Knowledge Standards: To achieve certification as a Firefighter I, an individual must know the following key concepts:

    • Parts of a ladder

    • Hazards associated with setting up ground ladders

    • Foundations considered stable for ladder placement

    • Different ladder angles required for various operational tasks

    • Safe angles for setting and climbing ladders

    • Structural components considered reliable for top placement

  • Required Practical Performance Tasks: A Firefighter I must be capable of performing the following operational tasks alone or as a member of a crew:

    • Carrying ground ladders

    • Raising ground ladders

    • Extending ground ladders and locking the fly

    • Determining if a structural component (wall or roof) can safely support a ladder

    • Judging extension ladder height requirements

    • Placing a ladder to avoid obvious hazards

Terminology and Parts of a Ladder

  • Standard Reference: NFPA 1001 (2024): 4.3.6 (Referenced in Figures 9.1 and 9.2, p. 336 and 337)

  • Beam: Main structural member of a ladder supporting the rungs or rung blocks.

  • Bed Section: Lowest and widest section of an extension ladder. While the ladder is being raised or lowered, this section always maintains contact with the ground or other supporting surface. Also referred to as the base section or main section.

  • Butt: Bottom end of the ladder; the end that is placed on the ground or other supporting surface when the ladder is positioned. Also referred to as the heel or base.

  • Butt Spurs: Metal plates, spikes, or cleats attached to the bottom end (butt) of ground ladders that help prevent slippage.

  • Fly Section: Upper section(s) of extension or combination ladders; the section that moves.