Firefighters ladders

[atferrari]

My modelist brother is interested to know how these ladders were used. Basically as a stand alone unit or linked to the truck all the time?

I could not find anything close to it in the Web. Any idea?

[SeanB]

Looking at the coach wheels they were originally horse drawn ladders, so were likely used by being taken to the fire, then wheeled around by hand to get to a location then they were manually extended and were propped against the building wall.

they probably kept them when changing to trucks, and as the trucks were modernised these ladders stayed as part of the newer vehicles. I did see a NY fire dept video on YT where they had the ladder shop on display, and how some of the ladders they use are a century or more old and still in good condition and still in service.

[Galenbo]

The construction of the ladder looks far more lightweight than the truck.
I suppose they come on site, drive to where this heavy 2x4 pump truck can get, and if needed, pull only the ladder through unhardened roads.

[SL4P]

Possibly some of these earlier trucks were gas/petrol powered - and better kept away from the flames!
Once diesel came in i that would have changed for the better!

[atferrari]

Nothing better than an image.

Gracias to all replying.