Offering Some Support

By Michael N. Ciampo

Pulling up to a building with fire showing and victims in the surrounding windows can tax the resources of any unit that arrives first due. From early in our careers, we're taught that above all else "life" is our primary concern and, in this case, removing these victims becomes one of our primary responsibilities. Of course, we'll need to size up which victim is in immediate peril and needs to be rescued first, compared with those not so exposed to the fire and in less danger. In some situations, it may be apparent that a victim's emotional state may dictate who is removed first. During these operations, it's also extremely important to stretch a hoseline—to start attacking the fire or protecting these victims and the firefighters going up to rescue them. Normally, it may be quicker to remove these victims with a portable ladder if they are within reach, compared with setting up the apparatus for a lower-floor fire. Portable ladders are pretty simple tools of the trade to operate; the actions and tactics we must perform with them or on and off them are the hard part to master.

While preparing to place a ladder up to a window with a conscious victim straddling the sill in a heavy smoke condition, personnel decided to raise it to a point just under the sill while favoring the victim's leg side. This was so the victim wouldn't grab onto the ladder and interfere with its placement. (Remember, often we may have to raise a ladder to its proper height out of a panicking victim's reach and roll it toward the victim.) Personnel gave loud verbal commands to the victim as they raised the ladder. As the ladder contacted the building just below the victim, the victim made a slow spinning movement and began to place his legs onto the ladder while attempting to self-evacuate. A firefighter quickly ascended the ladder to meet the victim.