This two-man ladder company is the standard for working structure fires in their city.

Entry No.2 in our two and three-man crew research contest comes from Senior Firefighter John Buchan of Ladder Company No.1 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Check out our other entries and how you can submit your own crew for posting.

Pine Bluff Ladder Company #1 was formed in 1892 from the Merrill Vol. Hook and Ladder Fire Company. Before 1892 the department was divided up into volunteer fire companies to protect a city of 10,000. Today Pine Bluff is a city of 48,000 people with a daytime population close to 60,000.
 
Ladder-1 responds to all structure fire, structure alarms, and tactical rescue calls on the eastside of the city. Ladder-1 also responds to all working fires in apartments and businesses citywide. We are second due on MVA’s with entrapment citywide. Daily staffing on Ladder-1 consist of 1 engineer and 1 firefighter.

(Ladder-1 is a 2010 Ferrara Inferno HD-107 with a 1500 GPM pump and 500 gallon water tank.)

For 2011, Ladder-1 has responded to 390 calls of which 145 were for structure fires and 170 were for alarms either in homes, apartments and businesses. 90% of the calls we respond to are fire calls. Ladder-1’s first due response area has hydrants every 500-1000 feet on large lines so water supply is easy for the first engine company.

The first due area has several dozen multi-story structures dating back to the 1860’s, other structures built around the 1930’s and 40’s are as tall as 12 stories. We also have a large number of vacant schools, homes, apartments and businesses.

All first alarm structure calls will get 3 engine companies (each with 3 man crew), 1 ladder or quint and a battalion chief.

The primary responsibility of Ladder-1 on the fire ground is “Vent, Enter, Search”. Now this can be done one of two ways. VES with an engine company and hand line or VES without an engine company or hand line. Different calls will dictate which way we go. As we arrive on scene we will make a quick game plan from what we see showing.

This is a few of the things we look for when we arrive on scene.
·        Time of day (Will they be asleep or awake, at work or at home?)
·        Cars or toys in the yard (Toys = Kids. We even look at the license plate to see if handicap)
·        Vacant or occupied (If vacant, is the structure tagged by the fire marshal’s office as a firefighter hazard)
·        Chance of victims trapped above the fire floor or need for ladders to be set up.
·        Life safety hazards (Power lines, holes, dogs, security bars and doors)
·        Location of fire if venting or heaviest smoke
·        Need for ventilation or rescue
·        Can we safely due a primary search without the engine company hand line
·        Defensive fire and waterway set up
 
Ladder-1 is the only company in the department that gets a green light on every fire. (If determined not to be a defensive fire). Meaning their assignment on every working fire is to have an aggressive VES and report back that the primary search has been completed.

(Firefighter Joe Kisel (Right) and Senior Firefighter John Buchan (Left) of Ladder Company 1.)

The firefighter's role on most fires:

The firefighter will exit the ladder when we arrive and be already masked up. The firefighter will have the T.I.C. and hand tool of their choice. (Each firefighter can pick what tool works for them). Most the time it’s a halligan or axe or both. They will go on air as they approach the structure. The job of the first firefighter is to locate the best access for the engine company and to open a secondary means of egress. The firefighter may have to perform forcible entry if needed. The firefighter will then enter the structure with or without the attack team from the engine company. If the first firefighter can see through the structure or knows the exact location of a victim they may proceed to make a rescue, do a search or locate the seat of the fire for the engine company. Most the time the firefighter works closely with the engine company to help knock down the fire and do a search as they go.

The driver's role on most fires:

While the firefighter is doing their job, the driver of the ladder company will set the truck up. Should the aerial not be needed the driver will pack up, grab a pike pole and start opening up the structure (windows and doors). The driver will then enter the structure and hook up with his firefighter to finish the primary search if not already done. After reporting the primary search to be clear the driver will pull ceiling and check the attic. Once this is completed, a PPV will be set up for ventilation.  We rarely perform ventilation on the roof due to the amount of other work that the ladder company will be doing.

As we all know not every fire is the same and what worked on the last fire may not apply to this fire. Each firefighter knows the importance of being in close contact with each other. This basic system has worked for our department for many years on most of our fire. The crews of Ladder Company #1 have received honors locally and nationally for their heroic efforts on the fire ground. It has been a great honor of mine to be able to work with the highly trained firefighters of this company.

Senior Firefighter John Buchan, Ladder Company #1
Pine Bluff, Arkansas

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Thanks John. This a great post as it involves a dedicated ladder company crew and encompasses a lot of details for a crew of two to manage at a working fire.

Thanks,

Bill and Dave.

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