Truck Co. Operations

[jasonsfd]

I would like some input on the different duties assigned to first due trucks. Also, I would like some info on different ways to set up ladder co. I have 3 1/2 years experience on a truck company and have just been reassigned to a new 105 ft. truck as the operator. Give me some thoughts to pass along. Thanks.

jasonsfd LADDER5
IAFF L 2801

WOODEN LADDERS AND IRON MEN

[FireCritic]

Truck Company Ops

Wow what a question.
First of all it all depends on the staffing.
I will tell you how we do it with staffing of 3 men total on a truck. A driver a firefighter and an officer.
Someone else can tell you how they do it with more men.

Our first priority on a residential fire is PPV(positive pressure ventilation). The driver sets this up. Usually the officer and firefighter go in and do the search w/t.i.c.(thermal imageing camera).The driver then will ladder the 2nd floor, get lights, tools, saws, etc to the front door.
That is a typical residential fire for the 1st in ladder company,which is all we get on a residential fire unless another one is requested.
Other tasks that 3 men are expected to pull of on any given fire are as follows.

Elevated Master Stream ops.
Elevated Standpipe ops.
Rescue w/Ladder(s)
Setting ladders
Search/Rescue
Overhaul
Ventilation ( ppv,smoke ejector,hydraulic,vertical)
Roof Vent.
Trench Vent.
RIT ops.
Forcible entry
Fire Attack( I work on a quint that is stationed with an engine luckily)
Exposure protection

All of these are operations that our department primarily relies on the Truck companies for(I'm sure I left out something). On top of that they expect us to do it with 3 men. So as far as the scope of our operations go, we have to pick our battles and hopefully win the war. Usually our Driver stays with the truck to provide logistical support i.e. throw ladders, set fans, get tools to the door, etc. This all works out if you have a hard working driver. Of course as with all fires, nothing is for sure, so we kinda roll with the punches. Other departments probably have 5 and 6 men on their ladder companies. We are a fully paid dept. and we roll with 3, how lucky are we. I guess it could be worse right. I hope I answered your question, let me know if I can help you out any more.

[ADSNWFLD]

Depending on your staffing the department has to set a priority list of truck functions. Rescue is obviously very important but in many cases their isn't a rescue to perform, also conditions may make another function more important initially.
Does your engine do some truck work or do they just advance the line? If it is up to you then forcible entry is the priority. On larger buildings the truck is a great asset as a recon team letting the engine know the best way to the fire. Again depending on staffing you can split your crew up. Inside you need to be paired up but one firefighter can do some outside work. Open the rear, vent (in coordination with the attack crew), secure utilities, throw a ladder or two.
You'll need two firefighters for that PPV, one guy can't effectivly throw that thing through the front window.
As a general rule I'd use the first few truck guys for an inside team, to help the engine and preform search in the immediate area of the fire. But the crew has to be flexable any number of things can change their first assignment.

Stay Safe

[FireCritic]

Truck Ops.

In our dept. usually the forcible entry is handled by the engine crew before advancing a line.This is in Residential dwellings. As far as any advanced forcible entry operations the truck company will probably be used.
I am not sure what you mean by two men will be needed to throw the thing through the window in regards to PPV. I guess that you are joking, but we should not lead on other readers to the effects of PPV. This can help the attack crew greatly. PPV can also fuel the fire as we all know and that is why the two operations must be coordinated.

[jasonsfd]

Thanks for the info. We run a 4 man truck co. This is our third truck being put into service. It will be used on mutual aid in our neighboring city unlike the other two. They want to do things a little different because of that. Our engines do engine work and our trucks do truck work but, not like it should be done. I look foward to more ideas in the future.

jasonsfd LADDER5
IAFF L 2801

WOODEN LADDERS AND IRON MEN

[FireCritic]

Truck Ops.

The best thing I can tell you is to insist on your deptartment making SOP's for the truck. We do not have a strong set of SOP's to go by, so our trucks work to the best of their ability. I do not mean that they free lance but they are only as good as they know what to do. Everything seems to work out in the long run, but it would be more unified if we had strong SOP's to go by. Of course the other problem is that we only have 3 man staffing. I hope this helps. If you want I might be able to catagorize operations by the importance(in my eyes). Let me know.

[CollegeBuff]

FireFleitz- come north sometime and watch some of my area departments run 2-man ladders. You'll go home thanking God for your three-man setup.