CICERO FIRE DEPARTMENT

TRAINING DIVISION
AERIAL
REFERENCE
AerialLADDER
Operations
Cheat SheetSHEET

Rescue is the 1st priority. Aerial should be set in rescue position, not in defensive.
Place ladder as square to the building as possible. The best position is one in which the
aerial device is perpendicular to an object or target (window sill, door opening, roof line,
balcony, etc.)
When raising a ladder to roof, extend it 5 rungs or 6ft. above the level of the roof.
When raising the ladder that is unsupported for rescue place the tip 4" to 6" above the
target. This allows the ladder to contact the building as people climb or descend
without placing stress on the ladder.
Ladder should be an inch or two off the roof or parapet wall.
Tip of aerial should be just below the windowsill in a rescue situation.
An average residential window is 30" wide, whereas the tip of an aerial is 20" to 24"
wide.
SCRUB AREA is the amount of surface area that can be physically contacted by an aerial
device. Generally, the greater the working height, the more scrub area it can cover.
Keep Aerial devices 10ft or more from overhead power lines.
Attempt to place aerial turntable near a building corner to provide access to two or
more sides of the building.
If the fire is located on upper floors of a building that is less than five stories, the aerial
apparatus may be positioned outside of the engine company. If it is over five stories,
the aerial apparatus should be inside the engine company.
Many manufacturers recommend not using aerial ladders when wind speeds are
35mph.
Ice build-up on an aerial reduces the rated capacity.
Railroad tracks: Try to park on same side of the tracks as incident. Keep apparatus 25ft.
from tracks.

Training Division Mission: To initiate and promote professional, well rounded, well educated, competent
firefighters and future administrators.