Tower Ladders vs Rear Mount straight ladders

[TLTruckie]

R = Rearmount = rescue/Roof
T = Tower Ladder = Tons of water.

LOL. Happy Holidays

TL - much easier to VES from a properly placed TL bucket then a stick, especially when and if a rapid exit is called for. Victim removal is easer and safer too.

Also must TL bucket‘s tool bin should have most any tools you may need at your finger tips , hooks , halligans , axe, maul, bolt cutters , wire cutters. water can, and usually a roof rope too. so basically wether it’s the LCC, OV or Roof FF . All he’s needs is a SCBA, or a saw if it’s going to the roof.

 

[TLTruckie]

nothing like climbing the aerial first due roof with everything, and then 2nd due roof just loads his stuff on the TL and gets brought up there like a gentleman lol

If the first due is a rear mount then way is the second due also taking his bucket to the roof. Wouldn't it be more beneficial for the bucket to be used for VES by the OV or the LCC . Second due roof up the same aerial. As long as the fire apartment is accessible for the bucket. That’s was the way we used our bucket 90% of the time. And no , our LCC didn’t just stand on the turntable.

i worked in a predominantly 3& 4 story row frames neighborhood , with a mix of some brownstones. The two rear mounts we usually ran in with knew our MO and we worked great together. A well oiled machine!

 

[ta176]

As someone who was exposed to mostly RM's in my career there was a time when the older RM's had trouble taking out windows in the many vacant buildings we encountered. The newer Rigs around the mid 70's started to have more power going to the aerial to vent windows. A lot of times we were challenged to take out double windows aiming for the vertical wood separating the 2 windows. We always had a hook on the fly ladder, so 1 less tool to carry up, but there for someone to take out windows if aerial couldn't. I did get to drive 120 one night, but all I did was get them there and put it in pumps. The 120 boys did the rest with the bucket. I never liked the bouncing of the bucket when stopping it. The few times I was in it twas a cold freezing night with water spray all over me.

 

[Captain784]

Aerial ladders have their place, but aerials are harder to use by civilians and are more dangerous to use. I truly feel you should NEVER NOT use ALL the tormenters on an aerial or tower ladder, as I makes the device unstable if movement is required in a direction other than the original direction. This can happen when the areal or Tower Ladder must be rotated away from the fire building to get firefighters or civilians away from venting fire.
I have over 50 years of experience with a Volunteer Fire Company, and 30+ years with the FDNY, much of that time in Aerial or Tower Ladder companies. I have NEVER seen at any time all the tormentors were not fully down and locked in an operating Aerial or Tower Ladder.
Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 25 retired