Hoisting Equipment

This week's drill idea is very simple and requires some innovations on the part of the training officer.

Get an acquired structure or use your firehouse if there are upper floors or the roof is safe to operate on.

The objective of this drill is really simple, it is to test ropes and knots knowledge coupled with the creativity of the firefighters available.

The instructors and a safety person should be on the roof area and then ask the assembled crews of two or three persons to retrieve and hoist whatever equipment is called for.

* Crews will have to report to the base of the area to get instructions on what items will be needed.

* Crews should be told to report as if they were being deployed at a commercial structural fire, that way they should have some tools and equipment with them.

* Items will have to retrieved in a timely and safe fashion from the apparatus, so equipment knowledge is also checked.

* After crews have performed a task, have them climb a ladder and be the hoisting crew as well.

* Items to be hoisted should include: Smoke ejector, roof ladder, charged hoseline, uncharged hoseline, folding ladder, step ladder, roof ladder, CO 2 or dry chemical extinguisher, power saw, stokes basket (can then be lowered with mannequin or hose dummy- Not a live victim), handlights and cords, small hand tools also such as axes, halligans, and hooks.

* All items should include a tag line so they are under full control at all times.

* Hoselines can be passed from story to story using pike poles and multi-hooks. This techniques should also be practiced.

* Evolution should be practiced with appropriate gear on.

* Utility ropes and not lifelines should be used.

* Items lifted should be appropriate for the size rope used.

Members will develop ways to use webbing and carabiners as an advantage. After completing basic evolution, small competitive timed evolution can take place.

There is a caution here that while encouraging creativity, care should be taken to insure proper knots and rope handling techniques are used.


Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013