In this section we are going to cuss and discuss Ground Ladder Operation on and off the fire scene and the proper techniques used and the safety that must be done, when working on or around ground ladders. For you lifers out there like myself feel free to give some insight and share your knowledge and lead the way and mold some of these young minds in here...
Training is knowledge!!!! And knowledge keeps us safe!!!!
Chief,
Personally I foot a ladder body to the building and prefer that way if someone is footing for me. If the person is facing the building while footing, they can keep an eye on conditions, what the firefighter is doing and have the ability to dodge one way or another should something be dropped and NOT fall straight down (on top of the under-the-ladder-footing-firefighter).
I won't tell you "in all my years in the fireservice" but I've worked on ladders for the better part of 30 years and it's the only way I've ever footed or seen anyone else do it. Just my preference.