At larger dwelling structures-multiple-story dwellings that are of combustible construction, the first-arriving ladder generally should take position perpendicular to the main and observable objective-the fire floor or the visible life hazard. The ladder unit should be prepared here for many things-entry to the fire floor, if tenable; removal of and additional search for victims indicated on arrival by continuous size-up; entry to the floors above the fire floor for search and ventilation; roof ventilation (unless the roof team has alternate means of access to the top of the structure); and, finally, any eventuality that may become evident after arrival.
如果火条件上没有明显的到来,tentative position should be at the corner of the building where activity will take place, nearest to your arrival direction. Here you have the ability to view two sides of the structure (I'll discuss this in a future column). But what is more important in staging here is that you have the ability to move forward to other locations across the structure should the interior team discover a hidden fire condition or victims (trapped firefighters) begin to show themselves or the roof team return and your aerial device is the only option to get to its position. The corner position will also offer the outside entry, search, and vent teams a few more access points for getting into the "rear" of the fire occupancy. It will also be easier to maneuver forward across the face of the building should fire break out or some "surprises" (mentioned above) show themselves at various, now-vacant, window and roof positions. Remember a sure rule: You can generally pull a truck forward on the fireground for a second location (spotting), but you can never back it up!
Let me stop here a second! Nothing upsets me more than the criticism of the collapsed aerial belonging to the Fire Department of New York that appeared on the covers of national periodicals. Everyone had a theory and someone unknown to them to blame! The sad thing is that those receiving the press and the most vocal across the nation were usually the two- or three-year "veterans" who have never arrived at a structural fire in their lives. Unless you can visualize the problems instantly from some near-experience, you haven't a clue! The photo was of a world-class truck based in a district that has more position problems than London had during the Blitz. There were lessons in that collapse, but not about position. The main lesson was that aerial ladders have little shear stress strength.
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