Check for Overhead Obstructions

I’ll say it again.

Check for overhead obstructions.

This is something that is pretty much drilled into your head when you learn how to throw ladders in the fire service. Our instructors take this very seriously, and they penalize you pretty hard when you forget to do this during training. Checking for overhead obstacles that you may encounter on a fire scene, such as power lines, wires, TV cables, and even trees, is imperative in ensuring safety of the firefighter using ladders. Most trainees, myself included when I went through orientation training, don’t really appreciate the severe consequences of not building this habit.

Today was marked with a tragic accident that sends firefighters a sober reminder that you should ALWAYS check for overhead obstructions when throwing ladders on the fire ground. An Arlington County veteran employee of 24 years was electricuted and killed while taking down lights at a water main break scene. He and his partner was taking down a ladder when they lost control of it and accidentaly touched an overhead powerline.

Read the story on the link below for more details on the accident: http://www2.insidenova.com/isn/news/local/article/1_electrocuted_1_hurt_while_making_repairs_in_arlington/47705/

Please, check for overhead obstructions.