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Pompier Ladders- Does Anyone Use These?
I was talking to one of our Probies the other day, and he asked me about Pompier Ladders. I told him that in 14 years, I've never seen one except in pictures. In fact, I'm certain that no F.D. in the Chicagoland area owns one of these! Are there any Fire Departments out there that actually use Pompier Ladders? Thanks in advance!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dustin J. Millis on
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Nobody uses them because nobody really knows how to use them safely and nobody uses them safely becasue there is really no safe way to use them LOL. Seriously, departments got rid of those because they were not safe. I've seen some pix of FDNY guys way back in the day hanging the from all kinds of crap on the side of a building and then climbing them while the ladder is swinging back and forth. They are actually still popular down in Mexico, nothing against our FF brothers down south, but all our old gear that nobody wants anymore from the states, is sent right down there to be put back in service.
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Permalink Reply by DCFireman on
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Please don't speak of that which you do not know... Like I said they have been used to make rescues and they do build confidence and I know because I had to it during rookie school. I also know a friend and fireman who overcame his fear of heights because he had to go 6 flights before he could graduate rookie school.
If you would like I can intrduce you to someone who brought a lady down one, so don't free wheel about what they can and can't be used for!!
Show me the widespread info on how many guys have been injured using them, then maybe, just maybe I will listen to you talk about using them safely!
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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Did your FD stop using these ladders in the 90's because "they feared rookies couldn't handle it anymore!" or because they were deemed to be unsafe? Just asking. I know those ladders have been used in various places around the world, but how many places still do so?
"Confidence" builders can have the exact reverse effect. They can destroy someones confidence. Build someone's confidence on equipment that they will be using on the job, not on something that the department has stopped using. You could destroy the confidence of a person who has the ability to be a great fiefighter - using equipment that's on the trucks.
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They stopped carrying them due to infrequency of usage on the fireground and the design of newer apparatus same as the fact that we don't carry Bangor ladders although I still think that was because at one point they did there best to cut our manning and it would take a minimum of 4 to utilize a Bangor.... Look if you can't over come all aspects of the FD then maybe you just don't belong one man's great firefighter is another's man who just couldn't cut it"!!! Sometimes just saying I am a fireman doesn't make it so!
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"Look if you can't over come all aspects of the FD then maybe you just don't belong" to me means what is currently used - not what used to be used. I've said in other threads that no way would I want to wear one of our 'traditional' helmets . Does that make me unsuitable to be a 'fireman'? Or is it that I simply think that the more modern kevlar helmets are better than the old brass ones? I also prefer the aluminium extension ladders we now use to the old very long wooden ones. Should we be trained using ladders that are now only display items, that woun't even fit onto the trucks?
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The question you should ask is ... Is change for change sake good or bad?
Change is inevitable I have no problem with that, but some would put SCBA's back into the outside compartments does that make it right?
Most major cities changed apparatus design because during civil or shall we say uncivil uprisings our equipment was liberated from the apparatus and sometimes used against us. Alot of volunteer fire departments liked a more closed design cause they looked prettier for parades.... When I was hired in DC most of the Truck Companies were of a more open design(easier to get to tools, appliances and ladders etc.... As for carrying equipment If I have numerous tools at my disposal even if in my day I never use it other than training with it does that make it a bad thing?
We will leave the aluminium (not brass it is too damn heavy) helmet question you asked alone til another day!
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Permalink Reply by Dennis Brown on
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Wow the last time i used one of them was back in fire school in the 70s we had to clime a 4story bld to grad it was fun
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Permalink Reply by D.C. Sterbenz on
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The closest we come in Topeka is we have a couple on our old antique tiller. My grandpa was on Topeka back in the 1950's said that they were used to a limited extent back then and he loved them, you must bear in mind that my grandpa has absolutly no fear of heights whatsoever. I think they would freak me out a little bit around the fourth story up.
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Permalink Reply by Dave on
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Well.. What goes up must come down!! The climb up, then we climb down using the pomp! It really is not as bad as it looks.
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35' is the tallest ground ladder that Topeka carries as far as I know. After that we set the Ariel. I climbed one when I was on a smaller department but it was strictly for training and confidence.
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