BY AL HOM
One of the most satisfying and rewarding posi- tions in the fire service is apparatus driver/operator/chauffeur. The apparatus operator often is the quarterback of his fire company. The driver's ability to position and handle the firefighting fuctions of the apparatus can affect the outcome of fireground operations. This article focuses on apparatus placement and aerial ladder operations—specifically the tractor-trailer with a four-section 100-foot aerial ladder.
The apparatus operator assigned to a truck company in a major urban area can encounter many obstacles that may affect the placement of the apparatus and deployment of the aerial ladder. In an old city such as San Francisco, some of these obstacles are congested, hilly, and narrow streets. Many of these streets are also lined with trees and cluttered with overhead power lines.
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