While technology has brought a great amount of change to the fire service in recent years, one thing has not changed. The trucks still cannot extinguish fires by themselves. Competent, well-trained driver/operators, fire officers, and truck company members are essential for the optimum use of the aerial apparatus. The driver/operator must be thoroughly versed in the proper operation of the vehicle and the aerial device, the proper positioning of the vehicle, and the care and maintenance of the vehicle and its equipment. The fire officer and the truck company members must be prepared to perform any of the common truck company functions, including search and rescue, ventilation, salvage, forcible entry, exposure protection, and elevated master stream operations.
This first edition of the Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook is designed to educate the driver/operators responsible for operating fire apparatus equipped with aerial devices. These include aerial ladders, aerial ladder platforms, articulating elevating platforms, telescoping elevating platforms, and water towers. It includes the information necessary to meet the job performance requirements of NFPA 1002, Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications, Chapters 1, 2, 4, and 5. It serves as a perfect accompaniment to IFSTA's Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook for driver/operators who are expected to operate both types of apparatus.
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