Ropes and Knots

9 

Ropes and 

Knots

9 

Skill Drill 9-1 

Caring for Life Safety Ropes 

• Protect the rope from sharp and abrasive edges; 

use edge protectors. 

• Protect the rope from rubbing against other 

ropes. 

• Protect the rope from heat, chemicals, flames, 

and sunlight. 

• Avoid stepping on a rope.

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Cleaning Fire Department Ropes (1 of 2) 

1. Wash the rope with mild 

soap and water. 

2. Use a rope washer or 

machine if recommended by 

the rope’s manufacturer.

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Cleaning Fire Department Ropes (2 of 2) 

3. Air dry the rope out of 

direct sunlight.

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Inspecting Fire Department Ropes 

• Inspect the rope after each use or at regular 

intervals. 

• Examine the core by looking for depressions, flat 

spots, or lumps. 

• Check the sheath by looking for discolorations, 

abrasions, flat spots, or anything embedded. 

• Remove the rope from service if it is damaged.


Placing a Life Safety Rope in a Rope Bag (1 of 2) 

9 

1. Tie a figure eight knot on 

a bight in the first end of the 

rope to go into the bag. 

2. Load the rope into the 

bag.


Placing a Life Safety Rope in a Rope Bag (2 of 2) 

9 

3. Do not coil the rope in 

the bag.

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Tying a Safety Knot (1 of 2) 

1. Take the loose end of the 

rope, beyond the knot, and 

form a loop around the 

standing part of the rope. 

2. Pass the loose end of the 

rope through the loop.

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Tying a Safety Knot (2 of 2) 

3. Tighten the safety knot 

by pulling on both ends at 

the same time.

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Tying a Half Hitch (1 of 2) 

1. Grab the rope with your 

palm facing away from you. 

2. Rotate your hand so your 

palm is facing you. This will 

make a loop in the rope.

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Tying a Half Hitch (2 of 2) 

3. Pass the loop over the 

end of the object. 

4. Finish the half-hitch knot 

by positioning it and pulling 

tight.

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Tying a Clove Hitch in the Open (1 of 3) 

1. Starting from left to right 

on the rope, grab the rope 

with crossed hands, with the 

left hand positioned higher. 

2. Holding onto the rope, 

uncross your hands. This 

will create a loop in each 

hand.

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3. Slide the right-hand loop 

behind the left-hand loop. 

4. Slide both loops over the 

object.

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5. Pull in opposite 

directions to tighten the 

clove hitch. Tie a safety 

knot in the working end of 

the rope.

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Tying a Clove Hitch Around an Object (1 of 3) 

1. Place the working end of 

the rope over the object. 

2. Make a complete loop 

around the object, working 

end down.

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3. Make a second loop 

around the object. Now pass 

the working end of the rope 

under the second loop. 

4. Tighten the knot and 

secure it by pulling on both 

ends.

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5. Tie a safety knot in the 

working end of the rope.

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Tying a Figure Eight Knot (1 of 2) 

1. Form a bight in the rope. 2. Loop the working end of 

the rope completely around 

the standing part of the 

rope.

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Tying a Figure Eight Knot (2 of 2) 

3. Thread the working end 

back through the bight. 

4. Tighten the knot by 

pulling on both ends 

simultaneously.

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Tying a Figure Eight on a Bight (1 of 3) 

1. Form a bight and identify 

the end of the bight as the 

working end. 

2. Holding both sides of the 

bight together, form a loop.

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3. Feed the working end 

of the bight back through 

the loop. 

4. Pull the knot tight.

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5. Secure the loose end of 

the rope with a safety 

knot.


Tying a Figure Eight with a Follow-Through (1 of 2) 

9 

1. Tie a regular figure eight, 

leaving approximately 2 

inches of rope at the 

working end. 

2. Loop the working end 

around or through the object 

to be secured.


Tying a Figure Eight with a Follow-Through (2 of 2) 

9 

3. Pull the knot tight. 4.Tie a safety knot in the 

working end.

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Tying a Bowline (1 of 3) 

1. Make the desired 

sized loop and bring the 

working end back to the 

standing part. 

2. Form another small loop 

in the standing part of the 

rope, with the section close 

to the working end on top.

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3. Pass the working end 

over the loop, around the 

standing part, and back 

through the same opening. 

4. Tighten the knot by 

holding the working end and 

pulling the standard part of 

the rope backward.

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working end of the rope.

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Tying a Sheet or Becket Bend (1 of 3) 

1. Using your left hand, form 

a bight at the working end of 

the first (larger) rope. 

2. Thread the working end 

of the second (smaller) rope 

up through the bight.

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3. Loop the second (smaller) 

rope completely around both 

sides of the bight. 

4. Tighten the knot.

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working end of each rope.

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Hoisting an Axe (1 of 4) 

1. The team that needs the 

axe should lower a rope with 

extra rope to tie the required 

knot around the axe. 

2. Tie a figure eight on a 

bight to make a small loop.

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3. Place the loop over the 

axe handle near the head. 

4. Pass the standing part of 

the rope around the head of 

the axe.

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5. Place the standing part 

of the rope parallel to the 

axe handle. 

6. Tie one or two half 

hitches along the axe 

handle.

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7. Prepare to raise the axe.

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Hoisting a Pike Pole (1 of 3) 


pike pole should lower a 

rope with extra rope for the 

required knot and tag line. 

2. Tie a clove hitch in the 

open and slip it over the 

handle. Secure it near the 

head.

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3. Place a half hitch around 

the handle below the clove 

hitch. 

4. Place a second half hitch 

around the handle near 

bottom of the pike pole.

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5. Prepare to raise the 

pike pole.

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Hoisting a Ladder (1 of 4) 


ladder should lower a rope 

with enough extra rope to tie 

onto the ladder. 

2. Tie a figure eight on a 

bight to make a loop 3 or 4 

feet in diameter.

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3. Pass the rope between 

the rungs of the ladder, 

three or four rungs from 

the top. 

4. Place the loop around the 

top of the ladder.

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5. Remove the slack from 

the rope and allow the loop 

to slide down the ladder. 

6. Attach a tag line below to 

control the ladder as it is 

hoisted.

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7. Prepare to raise the 

ladder.

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Hoisting a Charged Hose Line (1 of 3) 


hose should lower a rope 

with extra line available to 

tie onto the hose. 

2. Make sure that the nozzle 

is completely closed and 

secure.

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3. Tie a clove hitch around 

the hose, 1 or 2 feet behind 

the nozzle. 

4. Make a bight in the rope.

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5. Pass the bight through 

the nozzle handle (bale) 

and slip the bight over the 

nozzle tip. 

6. Prepare to hoist the hose.

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Hoisting an Uncharged Hose Line (1 of 2) 


hose should lower enough 

rope so that the ground 

crew can tie on the hose. 

2. Fold 3 feet of hose on 

itself and place the nozzle 

on top of the hose. Tie a 

half hitch over the nozzle.

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Hoisting an Uncharged Hose Line (2 of 2) 

3. Tie a clove hitch near the 

end of the rope, wrapping 

the rope around both the 

nozzle and the hose. 

4. Prepare to hoist the 

hose line with the fold at 

the top and the nozzle 

pointing down.

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Hoisting an Exhaust Fan or Power Tool (1 of 3) 


equipment lowers enough 

rope so that the ground 

crew can tie on the fan. 

2. Tie a figure eight knot in 

the rope about 3 feet from 

the working end of the rope.

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3. Loop the working end of 

the rope around the fan 

handle and back to the 

figure eight knot. 

4. Secure the rope by tying 

a figure eight with a followthrough. 

Thread the working 

end back through the knot.

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5. Attach a tag line to the 

fan for better control. 

6. Prepare to hoist the fan.

Ropes and Knots

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