Jerry Smith from Baltimore City sent in a picture of an upgrade the crew from BCFD Truck 15 made to the tip of their aerial ladder. It’s a similar concept as the recent post from DCFD Truck 13 featuring an LED upgrade to the aerial tip. The idea is to provide light, while maintaining a lower profile on the tip.
In this case, Truck 15 attached a halogen scene light to the last rung of the aerial with some U bolts. This particular installation allows the light to freely rotate with gravity to ensure the light is always pointing straight ahead. The light is simply plugged into the electrical outlet at the tip of the ladder and does require the generator to be in operation to provide illumination.
While this installation is slightly bulkier then the LED option, it obviously provides a substantial source of light, while still offering a reduced tip profile.
I think it’s a great idea but I have one question. If the light is allowed to freely rotate through the u-bolts, when the ladder is at a steep angle won’t the light be going 90-degrees to the tip? This would seem to shine
I think it’s a great idea but I have one question. If the light is allowed to freely rotate through the u-bolts, when the ladder is at a steep angle won’t the light be going 90-degrees to the tip? This would seem to shine the light directly ahead but not necessarily where crews are operating. Any insight?
Sorry, daughter hit the submit button before I was done on the first one.
^ Sure, blame the kids 😛
Good idea, i would think its more for when you are going to the roof to work. not so much an overall scene light. it would be a good reference point to get off quick, and also i think it would light up the roof area pretty good
How would this bode if you were venting a window with the tip?
I wonder how you route and pay-out the power cord without it being a trip/tangle hazzard. Good idea though
Jim: Since it says in the post that it’s plugged in to the 110v outlet at the tip, I’m guessing there’s probably less than 2 feet of cord, and they probably ziptied it to the rung and truss to keep it out of the way. Probably not much of a trip hazard. It doesn’t look like they do much venting with the tip, since the standard spot light on the side of the tip is still intact. Maybe someone from BCFD could comment further?
I have yet to see any manufact. of arial devices approve of the tip making contact with any stationary object with the intent to push, pull, force upward or downward.
I agree that lighting is important to most if not all operations but the true essence of the aerial (straight stick) is to provide unimpeded access to and from a particular location on the fire building. The more “crap” we put at the end of our aerials, the more we have to step over, through etc. to operate effectively…Keep the route by which we, as firefighters, have to walk up and down and evacuate/remove/rescue those that cannot be taken down through the building instead of using the aerial.
Whoops, one more thing. I do agree that a well placed BRIGHT light is great to prevent the would be rescued from jumping/leaping toward an aerial if they can’t see it well. The light provides a means to (hate to say it but its true) blind the person.
“I have yet to see any manufact. of arial devices approve of the tip making contact with any stationary object with the intent to push, pull, force upward or downward.”
It is but a tool in a tool box. If you find a use for it that can be done safely without further endangering anyone, use it. Famous LT from PA used his straight stick to push over a chimney that was certainly a HUGE collapse hazard. His actions minimized the threat of falling once it was collapsed and did not involve any huge risk to the FF’s to take it down. And most of the stuff the manufacturers have changed over the years has come from us adapting the tools to suit or needs at the time.
I’m sorry to hear about what happened to a brother in Baltimore County, we are constantly reminded how dangerous this job is. Stay Safe.
3 firemen and 2 fat broads on the aerial one night. If it didnt fail then…..a window or two being taken using the aerial isnt gonna make a difference tooltime.
One a few occassions I have witnessed an inexperienced LCC put the aerial through a top floor window and into the ceiling joists and get stuck. Had to cut the beam away to allow it to release. Nobody hurt but the young buck LCC caught some shyte in the kitchen.
Lights are good. however you can use them to provide a sense of security to the roofman and the brothers taking a beating inside. That light saved my life more than once when i became (Favorite word coming…….) “disorientated.”
Stay Safe.
Our main concentration of fires are 2 and 3 story dwellings so the ladder is never really used at a steep angle.
The light is underneath the rung and does not impede climbing on or off the ladder or the mounting of the ladder pipe at all. We made sure of this before mounting.
The light is great for roof work as it lights up the whole roof and it is one less thing to carry up the stick when going to the roof. In Baltimore the driver always goes to the roof for vertical ventilation so the light helps out tremendously. It may not work in all situations but it works for a majority of our dwelling fires. Thanks for the feedback as always it’s always nice to see how other guys do things. Stay safe