CA. WOOD LADDERS

[firemonkey70]

WHILE IN A DISCUSSION AND TRAINING YESTERDAY AT WORK THE SUBJECT OF WOODEN LADDERS CAME UP. THE ENSUING TOPIC BECAME WHY DO SOME CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENTS PRODUCE AND USE WOODEN LADDERS, TRADITION OR SOME OTHER REASON. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOME WEST COAST FIRE FIGHTERS ON THIS ONE. IT SEEMS LIKE THAT THE WOODED TYPE ARE MORE PREVALENT IN CA???? WHY?????

[911WACKER]

I beleive that it's the fact wood ladders show wear and damage better that the fiberglass or metal due, at least thats what a old timer told me once.

[UTFFEMT]

This could be a long topic, and many arguments could be made to justify iether types of ladders. I think that it boils down to two items;

Safety-A properly maintained wood ladder is non-conductive and will not fail under superheated conditions as fast as a metal ladder is apt to.

Tradition-It is simply an issue of tradition and looks. They look great if maintained well. :eek: :eek:

[CaptainGonzo]

I beleive that it is tradition. A properly maintained wood ladder not only looks good but can probably maintained easily. The only drawback is that they are heavy!!!

When I went through the Fire Academy 20 years ago, they had a 50 foot wooden tormentor pole ladder. It took 6 jakes to carry and raise it!

[Staylow]

Suprisingly tradition does not play the dominant role with our ladders. SF is covered with over head wires and building construction that limits truck use. Ground ladders are as necessary for fighting a fire as hose and water are. With that being said, they must be non-conductive. So alluminum just is not an option here. Our only other choice is fiberglass, and they are even heavier than the wood.

Stay Safe!

[Yaaooo]

Currently work for a Department in Los Angeles that has wood ladders. Benefits its wood so likely hood of electricution is limited (or so they tell us). Deals with heat better...just sand and varnish. Wood "talks" before it breaks. Endurance...some of the wood ladders still in use have out lived careers. Climbing a wood ladder is a real stable experience...they're just so damn stiff. Disadvantages ...Heavy...our wood 24' weighs 124 pounds compared to a 72# aluminum. Maintinence is a bitch. Anytime it gets a chip or visuble damage sanding and varnishing will take up an entire weekend. Expensive...2-3 times more expensive than aluminum.

But to be honest there's something about throwing a wood ladder. Must be the same feeling that east coast guys get when they wear their leather helmets.

[HFRH28]

Wood does not deteriorate under heat.

[Bones42]

Wood does not deteriorate under heat. But put the wood on top of the heat and you get more fire. :D

[ullrichk]

On the subject of wooden ladders, I've always wanted to make a trussed wooden fire ladder for my library. Who might have measurements/plans to base an accurate reproduction on? What kind of wood are they made of?

[HFRH28]

But put the wood on top of the heat and you get more fire. :D

But at least you get a visual warning that its about ready to call it quits. Aluminum doesn't show that it's about to fail until it's too late (with your weight on it).

But theoretically the wood should go about about an inch and hour (if i remember correctly), so if the rungs are 1" diameter, they'd be gone in 30 minutes, but their load carrying capacity would be much less. In 15 minutes they'd be down to .5", and if it has 15 minutes + of direct fire contact, you've got bigger problems!

[SON044]

wooden ladders feel much more stable to climb and work from. San Francisco has it's own ladder shop. Very cool and it makes perfect sense for them, S.F. still runs electric trolley cars (and all the overhead wires that it takes too make them run).

Since there are many hills in the city the have to custom fabricate adjustable feet to compensate for the angle of the sidewalk if they throw the ladder on a hill.

I believe they still carry 50ft. ladders and throw them regularly on buildings where the aerials cannot reach because of the wires. They had a 65ft extension which required 10 to throw. this is now for demo purposes only.

In Oakland we tried aluminum 50s but the pins attaching the tormentors to the bed ladder would fall out in mid throw. Very unnerving.

The last time we threw a 50 was in 1983 at a spectacular cathedral fire, thrown by an 4 man engine crew because the Truck was occupied elsewhere. All our 50s are now retired.

We have migrated to a Danish Oil finish instead of varnish. any damage to the finish is easily repaired with a bit of sand paper and a bit of Watco.

As far as heat resistance obviously wooden ladders will be damagedd through exposure to fire. But they will not instantly fail as aluminum ladders will.

The problem with wooden ladders in my narfrow perspective is that we are running out raw material to build them from

[dragonfyre]

Concepts and mis-concept-ions

Wooden ladders don't conduct electricity but any water on them will. Afterall there's no water being used at fires!

MAINTENANCE: Ever have to strip down, sand and re-shelac one? My first company 30 years ago had one and it was NOT easy to maintain.

Wooden ladders don't show deterioration before aluminum ladders. Aluminum will warp and bend under heat before a wooden ladder will start to burn.

Computer keyboards don't have lower case letters. (TIC)

[notmedicyet]

But to be honest there's something about throwing a wood ladder. Must be the same feeling that east coast guys get when they wear their leather helmets.

That seems like a good point. Every part of the country has their own traditions.

Jon