Maximizing Your Operational Capabilities With A Midmount Aerial
There are generally three limiting factors when it comes to achieving a successful placement of a midmount aerial apparatus at an emergency scene.
These limitations are the operating capabilities of the vehicle, the training and experience level of the operator, and the obstacles we are faced with when we arrive.
Having an understanding of these limitations, and knowing which can be overcome, often determines the difference between success or failure when operating a midmounted aerial.
To understand the strengths and weaknesses of a midmount aerial, it may help to first compare these to a rear mounted aerial.
Generally speaking, when compared to a rear mounted aerial, midmounts have a lower overall vehicle height and length. The lower vehicle height allows the operator to navigate through tree lined streets and can allow for tighter positioning when operating around wires and other obstructions. Being a few feet shorter overall, can aid the midmount in taking corners and driving in congested streets.
Rear mounted aerials generally have three sections, while midmount aerials of the same length usually have five. This means that having a shorter retracted length allows the midmount to be operated in more congested areas while allowing the operator to rotate past trees, wires and buildings. This will allow the operator to place the bucket on the ground closer to the rig and will afford the operator an increased scrub area around buildings.
A downside to the midmount is the fact that there is a tight window where the aerial is able to go below grade without hitting the cab or body. As an operator, you need to know where this sweet spot is in order to operate below grade, and how that will influence where you spot your turntable.
One of the most important things we can do as operators is to know our vehicle. When an operator has an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their particular aerial, there is very little that can’t be accomplished. Read and understand the operator’s manual. Respect the engineered limitations of your vehicle, and learn to exploit its strengths.
The midmounted aerials of today are strong and robust machines, however they do have limitations. Understanding this is a vital first step in becoming a competent operator.
The outrigger spread and span is always the same, and the length of your aerial bedded and fully extended do not change. Knowing how to short jack, and when it is appropriate must be understood. You should also be familiar with the overrides and how they work.
Overrides aren’t meant to make up for poor planning or inexperience, they are to be used in the event of a mechanical failure or computer glitch.
Knowing the strengths of your apparatus will make you a more effective operator. This Tower was special called on a Second Alarm fire. The operator backed down the block in order to maximize the scrub area. By taking the cab out of the equation, the crew was able to operate off the rear to ventilate an exposure and set up for master stream operations on the involved structures. Once the fire was knocked down, crews were able to safely perform exterior overhaul from the basket.
Any time you use the overrides, understand the consequences and make sure you are operating within the manufacturer’s recommendations and any department policies that may cover this area.
Understand your maximum loads at full extension, and when flowing water. If you operate in areas prone to icing, know how ice build up can affect your load ratings and operations.
Know how to position your vehicle with as little help as possible.
As an operator, you should be able to know where the center line of your turntable is. This is vital when positioning and will become second nature with practice and repetition.
Being able to spot your turntable on your own will give you the needed confidence to perform when it will be needed most.
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your particular vehicle come into play here. Midmount aerials work very well when operated either perpendicular to the body, or off the rear. When we do not plan for the cab obstruction, we run into trouble.
That is why good operators will kick the cab out when they position, or they will drive past the target to remove the cab from the equation.
An example of working off of the rear. By positioning this way, the two aerials are able to maximize their coverage, and access three sides and the roof.
Sometimes we are faced with the need to set up on uneven terrain or questionable ground. Knowing how to level your apparatus on uneven terrain such as on hills, or streets with high crowns is a basic but important skill for an operator.
Typically, you will raise the low side first, and then the high side. Doing the opposite may cause you to run out of height when raising the low side, making it difficult or impossible to level the apparatus.
In the event that you have to operate on soft or questionable surfaces, refer to department policy and the operator’s manual.
Typically, in this situation, it is best to position your apparatus so the aerial can be operated off the rear, and be used as close to the center line of the vehicle as possible.
Doing this will help prevent concentrating the weight on to one side or one particular outrigger.
Just as the operator’s manual is important, make sure you read and understand any department specific ladder company procedures.
Knowing what the expectations of the ladder company are, and understanding where and how you are allowed to operate, will go a long way in increasing your operational capabilities.
Another valuable source of information for apparatus operators are articles in trade magazines, classes and seminars, and reputable web sites.
There is a wide array of information available out there to help increase your operational understanding and abilities.
Articles written by Tom Brennan, Mike Wilbur, and Mike Ciampo are full of practical information and are great places to start.
Know yourself. If you don’t invest in the time and training necessary to become a competent operator, it becomes very difficult to properly spot an aerial at an emergency.
The limitations that the operator places on any evolution is usually the main determining factor as to whether or not an aerial can be positioned to be used to effect a rescue, perform ventilation or gain access to the structure.
Too many times you see aerial apparatus race to a scene, only to be parked somewhere near the structure on fire, but not quite in position to work offensively. It seems as if the aerial is always parked defensively and ready for “the big one”.
As an operator, you should always have an offensive mindset.
Positioning for rescues, ventilation, or firefighter access are all very important and need to be done in a timely manner.
Very rarely will you need to respond with a defensive mindset.
The speed and necessity of getting set up to establish a large caliber master stream will rarely equal the need to be proficient when making a spot for a rescue or other offensive move.
Short jacking is a common necessity in congested areas. Understanding that by having the outriggers fully extended on the working side, this truck will be able to operate on this side with no limitations.
Good operators will know where to position their turntable while still seated in the cab. In this example, the operator pulled past the involved structure and positioned his turntable on the A/D corner. This will allow for maximum coverage on two sides and have access to the roof if needed. The outrigger was also positioned inside a fence gate, allowing the rig to be brought closer to the structure, so the operator could raise the aerial between the wires and the structure.
Two midmounts working together to maximize frontal coverage on a large factory fire. Ladder 11 has the cab kicked out, the other, Ladder 5, has their cab kicked in slightly. This will maximize the scrub area for each aerial. These rigs were also positioned on the outside part of the street, which would allow a bucket to be placed low in order to obtain maximum penetrate with the master stream if needed.
So how does an operator become proficient enough in order to operate safely but aggressively at a fire?
As mentioned above, know your vehicle, have a sound understanding of the engineered strengths and weaknesses and be proficient with setting it up.
Initially, this should be done when doing regular truck checks out on the firehouse apron. There is a lot to be said for setting the vehicle up on a relatively level surface with minimal obstructions. You are looking to see that the truck is in proper working order, and operates as it should.
Once you become proficient with this, you now have to get out into your response area and get comfortable working around the obstacles you will encounter when responding to alarms.
This means driving the streets, discussing possible situations with your crew and setting the vehicle up using real buildings. This will give you an understanding of the difficulties that can come with parked cars, trees, wires, and various structures.
As you push yourself in training, you will begin to develop a baseline competency that will make you a better operator.
Hopefully, your department allows you to set up the aerial at every call you respond to, when appropriate. Having this experience spotting your rig at real buildings with real obstacles, allows you to get the mindset necessary to become a competent apparatus operator.
As a newer operator, understand that you can’t manufacture experience. What you can do is talk to those who have more experience than you and learn from their successes, and, sometimes more important, their failures.
Not every operator can get every spot, and not every spot can be had. You need to learn through training and experience when a particular target is achievable, or when it is either unsafe or outside of the operating abilities of you or your vehicle.
Magic just doesn’t happen. Experienced operators have learned over years what works and what doesn’t work.
It may seem as if veteran operators always get a spot, and therefore, you should too. The reality is that veteran operators understand that not all spots can be had, based upon a variety of limiting factors and conditions.
These operators are usually better at finding an adequate second or third option to make something happen based upon their experience. So with that, learn not to force it. Just because the front is open, that may not be the best play.
Begin to develop a positioning mindset and learn to be flexible.
If you are used to only setting the aerial up a certain way, like on the firehouse apron, very rarely will that work out in the field.
Being able to think on your feet and come up with successful alternatives isn’t outside of the box thinking, it’s developing the proper mindset based on your training and experience.
The more you get out there and expose yourself to obstacles and problems in training, the easier it will be for you to overcome these obstacles when it matters.
Daily checks of the apparatus are a must. Operators and other crew members should be familiar with the operations and maintenance of their rig. This will help all members to have a greater understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the vehicle, as well as being able to help out in the event of a mechanical issue.
Common occurrences for the aerial operator. Obstacles should always be anticipated. Here, the operator positioned the aerial around a parked car and under wires near a utility pole. An added bonus in this tight spot is that there was enough room to have the turntable positioned on the A/D corner, allowing more access from a very tight position.
Slow down on your approach! For an aerial operator, there’s a lot going on here. Rushing into the scene will only make things worse, as you probably won’t get a good set up, which will only hamper the overall operation. As mentioned in the article - Think out loud - Wires in front, fire on the A/B corner, #2 floor, exposure on the B Side. There are a few options the operator has, which should be quickly discussed with the officer before committing.
An outside position with the cab kicked out and the turntable located between the fire structure and the B Exposure, may be the play for big water in the event the exposure gets going. A more offensive minded approach may be pulling slightly past, taking an inside position on the A/D corner. Taking this position should allow access to two sides and the roof.
A competent operator is also well versed in their response area. Knowing the travel routes, streets, hazards and demographics of the neighborhoods they serve is key.
It takes very little effort to drive around your district, and get a feel for the construction types, population density and specific hazards you will be responding to.
Also knowing how to get from the fire station to a particular neighborhood is more than necessary. By knowing where you’re responding to, allows you to concentrate more on driving and the hazards inherent with it.
This also frees up the rest of your crew to concentrate more at the task at hand and to begin to formulate a plan.
If you have to be given turn by turn directions, your crew will be focused on making sure you get them to the scene, instead of getting mentally prepared for what they may be faced with.
Formulating a plan after you arrive at a scene puts the entire crew in a reactive mode, so we should be working on the things that allow us to be more proactive. Know your response district.
When driving to an alarm, as you approach the block, SLOW DOWN! You really only get one chance to properly spot your aerial. If it takes an extra few seconds to do this, then that’s what it takes.
Speed does not equal aggression here, and speed early on often leads to limitations later. Taking the extra time to plan a turn to kick the cab out a few more degrees, or rolling up a few more feet to get the turntable in just the right spot can be the difference in making that window, getting the roof, or not at all. By taking the extra time, we are working to increase our effectiveness.
Upon approach, communicate with your crew. Start thinking out loud - tree on the left, wires on the opposite side of the street, service drop on the A/D corner, fire on the #2 floor.
As you communicate these conditions, it begins to give others focus. They will start to see what you see, and they will begin to see things for themselves.
This is important, because when you begin to verbally formulate a plan, it will start to slow things down, just as most folks are beginning to get amped up.
Regardless of experience or demeanor, everyone is nervous or excited to some degree when arriving at a working fire.
Starting the conversation gets everyone on the same page, sets the tone and begins to focus the needs, limitations and expectations the crew is faced with.
Learn to develop the proper mindset. As an operator, you should always be thinking offensively, and have a positive attitude.
When this is coupled with training and experience, you will develop into a formidable and respected operator who can be depended upon to not only get a good spot, but work safely in any given situation.
As mentioned above, it usually doesn’t take much thought to spot an aerial for a defensive operation, the offensive position is typically more difficult.
Success and failure can usually be measured in a few feet or a few degrees, and both of these are typically placed squarely in the hands of the operator.
Being offensive minded does not mean being reckless.
This is an aggressive position. The target occupancy was blocked out by cars, trees and the wires. By positioning down the street, this operator was able to pull onto the sidewalk, bringing the turntable under the wires, which allows the operator to swing in and shoot back to the main objective. This position gave the operator access to the upper floors on the D side, as well as the roof. It may not be an ideal spot, but it was a better option than not getting anything at all.
It means you have the confidence based on your training, experience and awareness of the needs of the situation, to work hard to properly place your vehicle in order to be effective.
As an officer of a ladder company, I can say that knowing that I had experienced and competent operators allowed me to focus more on my own responsibilities. I could trust in the fact that my operator knew what needed to be accomplished, and was strong enough to get that done based on the situations we were presented with.
None of this happens in a vacuum. You have to get out and work with your crew and talk. Learn from each other, push each other, develop an atmosphere where it’s OK to ask questions, and OK to fail.
Coming up short in training isn’t a bad thing. Actually, it’s a very good thing. It’s one thing to understand what you or your truck CAN do, but if we never know what we CAN’T do, then we won’t know where our boundaries are.
I’d much rather see an operator take a bad spot in training, and not be able to achieve a specific target, then to make that same mistake in the field when it was needed.
Having an environment where team members feel comfortable enough to push themselves and each other will pay off when the alarm hits. There is nothing more rewarding as a company officer, then seeing a crew work together and gel into a strong, effective team.
The only way to know what others on your team are going to do, is to actually go out and train with them and let them do it.
As you train and practice different evolutions, you learn to help each other, develop a language and understand each other’s tendencies, strengths and weaknesses.
We will need to plan how to work around obstacles such as trees, wires, cars, and structures with our aerials. Just because there are obstacles, this does not mean that you are out of the game.
Left:
Be creative and have a mindset that will allow you to think down a progression of priorities and spots in order to get a placement that will work.
Sometimes there are wires too close to the structure, or there are other obstacles in the way. With an offensive mindset we are always trying to maximize our operability.
Work as hard as you can to safely get a spot that allows the truck to be put into play.
There will be times, however, that even the most experienced of operators are unable to get a spot. This doesn’t mean you’re out of the game, it just means that you might have to start humping ladders and throwing aluminum on the building.
A required skill for any operator is knowing how to read a utility pole.
Typically from top to bottom, the primary and secondary wires are the upper wires, the service drop to a residence or business will come off of the secondaries, and then there should be a gap with the cable TV and telephone wires lower on the pole.
Know your department’s policy for working around wires and how close you can safely operate near them.
In areas where there are overhead wires, typically a good consideration is to get the turntable as close to or even under the wires.
This will allow the operator to swing the aerial clear of the wires as much as possible and operate without the fear of electrocution.
Sometimes this can be accomplished by positioning part of the vehicle on the sidewalk, or using part of a driveway to tuck the cab in.
Often this extra bit of positioning to gain a few degrees or feet closer to the objective makes a tremendous difference.
More “shooting back”. By positioning past the parked cars and pulling onto the sidewalk, the operator again gets the turntable under the wires. This allows the aerial to shoot back and access the front of the structure, part of the D side, and some of the roof.
Parked cars can be an obstacle as well. Knowing how to position your vehicle so the outriggers will fall in between parked vehicles will allow you to either get closer to the inside position, or maximize the distance away if an outside position is needed.
Short jacking on the far side can also allow you to maximize a tight position and get your outriggers fully extended on the operating side.
Many departments are afraid to short jack their apparatus. This is usually due to a lack of experience and understanding of how your vehicle operates. There is nothing wrong with short jacking on the non working side, since the majority of the weight and stress will be placed on the outriggers on the operating side. In some jurisdictions, short jacking is a regular occurrence due to congested streets, the presence of wires and the need to achieve a particular apparatus placement.
You should practice this regularly since short jacking can greatly increase your abilities in positioning your vehicle.
So where do we position our midmount?
This will be determined based upon our fire-ground priorities - rescue, ventilation, firefighter access and then master streams.
These priorities may change based on the occupancy, location of fire, and the obstacles encountered.
Like everything we do on the fire ground, our number one priority is the preservation of life.
Midmounts generally work their best operating from the corners of structures. This will allow operators to maximize their scrub area and have access to two sides and the roof.
By kicking the cab away from the structure, we will be able to gain a few more degrees of operation as well.
If we are going to be working in the front of a structure, we generally try to take an outside position, meaning that we position the vehicle on the opposite side of the street from our target. This will allow us to maximize our scrub area - the area we can access with our bucket, and hopefully be in position to operate the bucket close to the ground if needed.
Typically though, by positioning in the front of the structure, we may not have access to the sides of the occupancy. This may not be an issue however, based on the occupancy type and situation at hand.
Due to obstructions and other obstacles, we may find that the only position attainable is what is called “shooting back”.
This is when the aerial is pulled past the target structure, and the cab and turntable are positioned close to, or under wires down the street, and the aerial is flown off the rear to access the fire building.
More aggressive positioning. The parked cars and wires afford little access from the front. By pulling slightly past, and hugging the utility pole with the cab, the operator is able to position on the A/D corner. This helps to bring the turntable closer in so it is nearer to the wires. While this position is not ideal, it attempts to make something happen when the location and obstacles give very few options. The aerial is touching the communication lines here. This may not be something that every department is willing to do, so make sure you have a clear understanding of your policies, and you know where you are permitted to operate.
This position typically only gets you access to the front and maybe one window on the near side of the structure.
For multi-story residential dwellings, ideally we would like to position on a corner. This will give us access to two sides and the roof which is ideal, but more importantly, this gives us access to the areas where we should anticipate victims.
These areas are the bedrooms on the front of the upper floors and the rear bedroom on one side. This will also maximize our scrub area if we need to access a particular window, go to the roof for vent, or later in the event, to perform exterior overhaul. In the event that we are unable to position on a corner, we should position taking into account the greatest life hazard and the location of the fire.
If we need to get a particular window in order to effect a rescue, and that ends up being the only part of the occupancy that we access, then that is what needs to be done.
Single story private dwellings usually do not have a life hazard component where the bucket will be utilized. However if the tower is going to be used, we generally will only need it to gain access to the roof for ventilation.
If there is a half story and we are going to position for life safety, we would try and position on the corners again, in order to gain access to the windows on either side of the house, and the dormers in the front.
For commercial occupancies, such as single story strip malls or taxpayers, typically we will try to position in front of the fire building parallel to the fire.
Positioning the truck in an outside position, on the opposite side of the road from the emergency will allow the operator to swing the bucket into place and drop it right to the ground.
From there, we can open up with the large caliber master stream from the bucket and make a significant impact on the fire quickly.
Once the fire is darkened down, handlines can be operated and the tower crew can then perform other activities, such as vent or exterior overhaul from the safety of the bucket.
This vehicle is its most effective when the master stream is applied to the structure in an inward and upward manner, unlike a typical aerial ladder.
By doing this, we can begin to penetrate deep into the structure with the stream, tearing through walls and getting the water at the seat of the fire, not waiting for the fire to burn through the roof in order to rain water down from above.
Even though this is a defensive move, getting water to the seat of the fire is done with an offensive mindset. If we can hold the fire to one occupancy and allow engine crews to eventually work in the adjacent exposures, we hope to minimize damage and not write the entire strip off.
With this inside position, the operator was able to position the turntable on the A/B corner, inside the wires. This gave us access to the front, B side and roof. By having such a position, the operator is able to maximize the scrub area coverage for rescue and access. All windows on the front and B side were accessible via aerial, as well as the roof. Another advantage gained is for exterior overhaul after the fire has been extinguished. By working from the bucket, crew members can work safer and be more productive than if they were working off of ground ladders.
When positioning for master streams, it is important to slow down and position for maximum operating capability.
Rushing into a scene of a large fire without planning usually leads to operational limitations, and worst case, a need to have to move the apparatus as the situation evolves.
Slow down and assess the situation upon approach, coordinating with the on scene commander.
Position your apparatus outside of the collapse zone and upwind if possible. Take an outside position far enough away from the structure so that you can maximize the master stream by placing it close to the ground to penetrate the structure if that is a consideration.
Defensive operations usually last for hours, so maximize your operating capabilities by taking a good initial position.
So hopefully this article has given you some insight into understanding how to maximize your operational capabilities when working with a midmounted aerial.
Having a sound understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the vehicle, coupled with the operator’s own mindset and abilities will go a long way in having a successful operation.
When performing vertical ventilation on a peaked roof, regardless of the pitch, the bucket allows the operator to work safer and have a point to stage any necessary tools. A properly placed and coordinated vertical vent hole at a fire greatly increases the survivability of any potential victims and increases the interior crews effectiveness.
The engine crew can move in and hit the seat of the fire while at the same time the search crews are inside performing primaries. On this vent hole, note how all cuts are overlapped, and three full bays are opened. This maximizes the size of the vent hole, and by overlapping the cuts, the operator is assured that the cut will louver easily, not requiring any duplication of effort. The quicker this cut is performed, the safer the fireground will be for everyone.
Taking the front and being able to maximize the scrub area, the operator was able to put the basket low to the ground and operate the master stream directly into the structure. By performing hydraulic overhaul, we are able to break up walls and partitions, which allows up to apply a maximum amount of water to the seat of the fire.
Taking the front and being able to maximize the scrub area, the operator was able to put the basket low to the ground and operate the master stream directly into the structure. By performing hydraulic overhaul, we are able to break up walls and partitions, which allows up to apply a maximum amount of water to the seat of the fire.
By taking the time to get an optimal spot, the operator is able to position the apparatus to maximize its operational effectiveness. From this position off the back, this crew was able to perform vertical ventilation on an exposure building, operate a master stream in the main fire building, and then perform exterior overhaul from the safety of the bucket as the situation went under control.