SOP Manual - Cleveland Fire Department

Cleveland Fire Department
Operations Manual
A. Approach
Once the Ladder/Truck is at the fire scene, it shall advance in a slow, deliberate approach to the
fire building. No Company shall try to beat another Company to a position whether it is an Engine
or Ladder/Truck; such foolishness can only lead to poor positioning, accidents, and injuries. The
Company Officer should be concerned only with getting a good position from which the Company
can work efficiently.
The Ladder/Truck must not be committed (that is, stopped, the wheels chocked, the jacks set, etc.)
until it is in the proper position. This can only be determined after the truck has made its approach
to the fire ground and the fire conditions have been observed.
B. Positioning
Rescue
In areas of one-story and two-story buildings, it is not usually essential that the Ladder/Truck be
positioned directly at the front (or rear) of the fire building.
Since the platform will probably not be used in Ladder/Truck operations in such low-rise
structures, the Ladder/Truck can be positioned to one side of the building. This will leave the
priority positions for the Engine Companies, but will not hinder Ladder/Truck operations.
A Ladder/Truck shall avoid a position that blocks Engine Companies from a hydrant or protective
system intake. (Sprinkler or Standpipe Connections)
If the fire building is more than two stories high, the Engine Companies must allow the
Ladder/Truck Companies to get close to the building so aerial units can be positioned effectively
and so the larger ground ladders can be raised quickly. Engines must leave a minimum of 50', if
possible, behind the Ladder/Truck when spotting an Engine. This will insure that ground ladders
can be removed.
The extent, location, and intensity of the fire might not allow for perfect positioning of the
Ladder/Truck. In these cases, the Ladder/Truck shall be positioned as well as possible and
operations initiated without delay. If the building height and the intensity of the fire require such
action, the Ladder/Truck shall be positioned for use of the elevated stream. Or, the best plan of
action might be to position the Ladder/Truck some distance from the building to allow firefighters
to perform their duties without unnecessary hazards.
When the fire building is one of several row buildings of the same height, the Ladder/Truck can be
positioned so the roof of an adjoining building can be laddered. The firefighters can then work
their way from the adjoining roof to the fire building roof for venting and to the rear for other
duties.
Rescue of people in danger is the primary objective of a fire company and the first duty to be performed at
the scene of a fire.
Until such time as the Fire Department establishes a Rescue Company, the Ladder/Truck Company shall
provide rescue operations. When a Rescue Company is established, the Ladder/Truck Company shall
provide rescue whenever the Rescue Company is not on the scene. When a rescue is in progress, at the
discretion of Command, a member or members from an Engine Company may be temporarily assigned to
the Ladder/Truck Company to facilitate rescue.
Effective: June 1, 1997 Revised: 5/14/2009 Page | 200
Approved by: Chief Chuck Atchley