Ground Ladder Selection, Raise, and Placement

Ground Ladder Selection, Raise, and Placement

Ground ladders are among the most important tools a firefighter carries. Used correctly, they provide rescue paths, ventilation access, and elevated attack positions. Used incorrectly, they injure firefighters and fail the victims they are meant to save. This lesson covers selection, raising, and safe placement to NFPA 1001 Firefighter I standards.

Ladder Types and When to Use Each

Four ladder types appear in today's lab.

Roof ladder — A single-section ladder with folding hooks at the tip. The hooks grip a roof ridge so a firefighter can work on a pitched roof without sliding. Select it when you need to move across a sloped roof surface.

Extension ladder — A two- or three-section ladder whose fly section travels up a halyard (rope) and is locked by spring-loaded pawls (dogs). Common sizes for structural work are 24 ft and 35 ft. Select an extension ladder when the target—a window sill, roof edge, or parapet—is beyond single-section reach.

Folding (attic) ladder — A narrow, hinged-rung ladder that folds flat for storage in tight compartments. Use it inside buildings to access attic hatches or confined openings.

A-frame (stepladder) — A self-supporting, two-sided ladder. Use it where no wall is available for leaning support, such as during overhaul on an open floor.

Ladder Components You Must Know

• Butt / butt spurs — The base end of the ladder; metal spurs bite into the ground to prevent slipping.
• Halyard — The rope (or cable) that extends and lowers the fly section on an extension ladder.
• Fly section — The upper, sliding section of an extension ladder.
• Pawls (dogs) — Spring-loaded hooks on the fly section that lock into the rungs of the bed section, holding the fly at the desired height.
• Tip — The very top of the ladder; on a roof ladder the tip carries the folding hooks.
• Bed section — The lower, fixed section of an extension ladder against which the fly travels.
• Dogs / pawls — Verify they are fully seated and locked before any climber steps on the ladder.

Selecting the Right Ladder for the Height

A rule of thumb: the extended ladder must reach the objective and still allow the correct climbing angle. For a second-story window the sill is typically 12–18 ft above grade; a 24-ft extension ladder is usually sufficient. A third-floor window or roof edge on a two-story building often requires a 35-ft ladder. Always confirm that the extended length exceeds the objective height enough to position the tip properly—for window rescue, the tip is placed at or just below the sill so the climber can step through; for roof access, the tip extends at least 3 rungs (approximately 3 ft) above the roof edge per NFPA 1001 guidelines.

The 70–75-Degree Climbing Angle

The climbing angle is critical for both safety and efficiency. Too steep and the ladder can tip backward; too shallow and it overloads the butt and may slide or fail. The standard climbing angle is 70–75 degrees from horizontal.

A practical field check: stand at the butt, toes touching the rail, arms extended horizontally—your hands should just reach a rung (the "arm's-length" method). An angle indicator tool gives a precise reading and is used in today's evaluation.

Raise Techniques

Single-firefighter flat raise to beam raise — Beginning from flat on the ground, the firefighter stands at the butt, foots the ladder, and walks hand-over-hand under the rungs (flat raise) until the ladder is vertical, then leans it against the structure (beam raise). Practice this sequence at ground level before working against the tower.

Single-firefighter extension ladder raise — After performing the beam raise, the firefighter pulls the halyard hand-over-hand to extend the fly to the needed height, then cleats or ties off the halyard so it cannot slip. Confirm pawls are locked. Adjust the butt distance to achieve 70–75 degrees and heel the ladder (maintain downward foot pressure on the butt) until it is secured.

Two-firefighter raise — Firefighter 1 (footing) stands at the butt spurs, heeling the ladder throughout. Firefighter 2 lifts at the tip end, walks forward under the ladder, and raises it to vertical while Firefighter 1 keeps the butt planted. Two-firefighter raises are required for ladders 28 ft and longer, or whenever ground conditions are poor. Communication between partners is continuous.

Heeling and Securing

The butt must be heeled at all times a ladder is in use. Heeling means a firefighter plants their feet against the butt spurs and grips the beams, applying downward and inward pressure. On hard or slick surfaces, additional securing—rope tied to a fixed anchor, ladder placed against a solid surface—may be required. Never leave a raised ladder unheeled and unattended.

PPE and Safety Rules for This Lab

• Full structural PPE (helmet, gloves, coat, boots, hood) is worn for all raises and climbing evolutions.
• Inspect every ladder before use: check for bent rungs, cracked beams, frayed halyard, and missing butt spurs.
• Call out "Ladder going up" before raising; bystanders clear the area beneath the tip's travel path.
• Never carry a raised ladder near overhead power lines.
• One climber at a time unless the ladder is specifically rated and directed otherwise.
• Climb the center of the ladder; maintain three points of contact at all times.
• Report any damaged equipment to the instructor immediately; remove it from service.

What Instructors Are Evaluating

Today's JPR checklist tracks: correct ladder selection for the scenario, proper beam raise sequence, pawls fully locked, halyard secured, butt heeled throughout, and a final climbing angle of 70–75 degrees confirmed by the angle indicator. Any critical safety error—unheeled butt during a climb, unlocked pawls, failure to inspect—results in an automatic re-attempt after remediation.