Fire Apparatus USA 03
Fire Apparatus USA 03 : Types: Conventional Fire Apparatus: Aerial Apparatus: Turntable Ladder: Several aerial apparatus in use at a fire inLos Angeles. A turntable ladder (TL) is perhaps the best-known form of specialised aerial apparatus, and is used to gain access to fires occurring at height using a large telescopic ladder, where conventional ladders carried on conventional appliances might not reach. The name is derived from the fact that the large ladder is mounted on a turntable on the back of a truck chassis, allowing it to pivot around a stable base, which in turn allows a much greater ladder length to be achieved. To increase its length, the ladder is telescopic. Modern TLs are either hydraulic or pneumatic in operation. A ladder can also be mounted behind the cab. This is sometimes called "mid-ship" and the arrangement allows a shorter wheelbase for the truck, and also can be more stable in some conditions. Rear-mount ladders are built on wheelbases as short as 8ft 10in. Examples are 60ft units manufactured by Gimaex. The key functions of a turntable ladder are: (a) Allowing access or egress of firefighters and casualties at height; (b) Providing a high level water point for firefighting (elevated master stream); (c) Providing a working platform from which tasks such as ventilation or overhaul can be executed. While the traditional characteristic of a fire appliance was a lack of water pumping or storage, many modern TLs have a water pumping function built in (and some have their own onboard supply reservoir), and may have a pre-piped waterway running the length of the ladder, to allow a stream of water to the firefighters at the top. In some cases, there may also be a monitor at the top of the ladder for ease of use. Other appliances may simply have a trackway which will hold a manually run hose reel securely, and prevent it from falling to the ground
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