If you need to get up in the air, but don't want to deal with the size, expense or personnel requirements associated with a separate aerial ladder or platform, maybe a pumper with an aerial device would work. These compact, versatile units can be put in operation by a minimum crew to perform many of the firefighting and rescue duties handled by larger units.

Several manufacturers offer structure pumpers with various configurations of aerial devices. These units are smaller than quints and don't carry all the ground ladders and other equipment that are normally carried on quints, but they still offer the advantages of having an aerial. The chassis usually have medium-length wheelbases and single rear axles, which makes them attractive for departments that are concerned about weight, length and maneuverability. Most of the aerials have vertical reaches ranging from 50 to 70 feet and are suitable for use in areas where the tallest structures are five stories or less. Although pumpers with 75-foot aerials may be more common, they generally have longer wheelbases and longer overall lengths. Some require tandem rear axles. Quints with 75-foot aerials are usually even longer or may have restrictions on the size of water tanks and other components.

The most popular aerial configuration for pumpers is an aerial ladder with an NFPA tip load of 250 to 500 pounds. Depending on the manufacturer, these aerials may be specified in mid-mount and rear-mount ladder positions to meet specific operating preferences. Mid-mounts place the ladder turntable directly opposite the standard side-mount pump panel to let the operator visually control both the pump and the ladder from the same position. Rear-mount ladders with rear-mount pump panels do the same thing. Grouping the controls is helpful when operating the aerial with a minimum crew. Preplumbed waterways with remote-control monitors also help.

Departments also can specify pumpers equipped with aerial platforms, although there are only a limited number of models available. Platforms have NFPA tip loads of 750 pounds or greater and are valuable in rescue situations where victims are not fully ambulatory or when more than one person must be moved to and from the ground at a time. As with aerial ladders, grouping the aerial controls with the pump controls can be helpful when operating with a minimum number of personnel.

Finally, pumpers with water towers can deliver elevated master streams, but do not have ladders or platforms for personnel. They are useful for departments with large fire hazards that require substantial water flow, but don't necessarily need rescue or ventilation capabilities. Some water towers are available in telescoping boom and articulating boom configurations to position the elevated nozzle. Articulating boom models have a great deal of flexibility in delivering water both above and below grade, as well as to the sides. Some may be equipped with piercing nozzles to penetrate walls and roofs.

There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to the concept of running a pumper with an aerial device instead of a straight pumper, full aerial or quint. Departments need to consider both the good and the bad.

The most compelling advantage of a pumper with an aerial is the ability to operate with a minimum crew. This is especially true in the first critical minutes when the availability of an aerial can be valuable in making quick rescues and stopping the spread of fires. It only requires one driver, and a crew of two can begin exterior rescue operations from an upper-story window in a matter of minutes. A crew of three can easily lay a supply line from a hydrant and establish an elevated master stream in about the same time. Efficient operations take pre-planning and practice, but otherwise the mechanical procedures are pretty straightforward. Some aerials have only a single set of outriggers to place, and many can be set up in narrow spaces. Interlocks help avoid aerial activation without proper outrigger extension for added safety. With grouped controls, the pump operator can engage the pump, raise the aerial, and activate scene lights from a single location while the rest of the crew pulls handlines and dons SCBA.

Another big advantage of a pumper with an aerial is that the combined vehicle retains its full capabilities as a pumper. Unlike some aerial and quint designs where the hosebed, water tank and compartments often have to be fit around the aerial device, adding a short aerial doesn't affect the basic pumper configuration. The resulting apparatus retains its full pump, hose, tank and equipment capacities with little or no modifications. If a mid-mount aerial design is selected, it won't affect the cab either, and departments are able to specify raised cab roofs and full cab warning light bars. This advantage is important to many departments who plan to use the vehicle primarily as a pumper and don't want to compromise the configuration to add an aerial.

Of course, one of the main reasons for adding an aerial is to be able to conduct some ladder company operations. Although departments will be limited by the lack of extra ground ladders and other equipment normally carried on an aerial or a quint, they still will be able to use the aerial device in many situations. At large fires, they will be able to quickly put an elevated master stream into operation, and that alone is often worth adding the aerial. Grain elevators, packing sheds, warehouses, lumber yards, paper plants and other industrial and agricultural facilities all present potential fire hazards where the quick deployment of an elevated master stream is critical. Rescue situations often need the extended vertical and horizontal reach of an aerial to provide access for emergency personnel and evacuate victims. Victims trapped by fires, building collapses, over-the-side motor vehicle accidents and certain water rescues could all benefit from having an aerial available.

Adding an aerial to a pumper also can potentially gain departments additional points on their Insurance Services Office ratings depending on the types and heights of structures within the response area, equipment carried, aerial length, staffing levels and other factors. In turn, this may result in a better ISO classification and lower fire insurance premiums for property owners. Some departments might be able to translate those potential savings into additional budget to justify the cost of the aerial device. This is not guaranteed, and there are many restrictions and conditions. Departments should consult their regional ISO office for more information before trying to take advantage of this. (See “ISO Ratings for Pumpers With Aerials” at left.)

Finally, adding a short aerial to a pumper usually results in a lower-cost, lighter-weight, more-compact vehicle than a quint or full aerial. It will be easier to maneuver and more likely to fit into existing stations. Drivers will find the handling to be much like a standard pumper and will require less training. Firefighters will find the layout is much like a standard pumper and will be more comfortable and efficient using it.

Every apparatus configuration has its disadvantages as well as its advantages. Adding an aerial device to a pumper is no exception.

The most important disadvantage to consider is that a typical short aerial has only a limited capabilities and can only be used in certain situations. Most short aerials are 70-foot or less and will not be able to reach the top of some buildings depending on the building height, presence of parapets or other obstacles, setback from the street, and differences in elevations between the street and the building. Most short aerials also have only medium-duty tip load ratings and cannot support the weight of numerous personnel or extra equipment. When the situation calls for longer aerials with higher load capacities, specifying an aerial on a pumper will often not work.

Another disadvantage is that an aerial device on a pumper doesn't make it a ladder company. Most pumpers don't have space for all the ground ladders, pike poles, tarps, saws and other equipment normally carried on an aerial or a quint. This will limit the amount of ventilation, salvage and overhaul that the crew can perform. If departments need these functions, they may have to run a separate ladder company or upgrade to a larger vehicle with sufficient compartments to carry the required gear.

Another big disadvantage is that operating an aerial device requires training — usually lots of it. Engine company personnel cannot suddenly be expected to perform even the most basic aerial operations without training. It's not efficient and it's not safe. This can be a problem in some volunteer departments where the skills and training of responding personnel may vary from call to call. Without properly trained people, the aerial should remain down or it can do more harm than good.

It may be difficult to use this configuration as both a pumper and an aerial at the same time. It doesn't have enough equipment and usually isn't staffed with enough personnel to perform both functions simultaneously. Departments should plan to use pumpers with aerials in very specific situations and very specific orders of operation to avoid problems.

Using a pumper with an aerial device often works best in areas where most calls require an engine company, and only a few require an aerial. This might include suburban and rural areas with limited height structures, where the nearest ladder company is beyond the normal response time. It might also include areas where there are specific isolated fire hazards that would require an elevated master stream. The aerial should be used primarily to deliver elevated master streams and secondarily for limited rescue operations. Using it for roof ventilation duties and transporting personnel to the upper stories of a building may have to be restricted.

Ideally, the vehicle should have an assigned crew that has been properly trained. This might be a paid department, a combination department with a small on-duty staff at all times, or a volunteer department where several trained people are assigned to drive and operate the aerial. Department standard operating procedures should clearly define who may operate the aerial device and under what conditions.

And finally, a pumper with an aerial device should only be used by departments that fully understand such a vehicle is not a ladder company and cannot perform all the functions of a full aerial or quint, nor get full ISO credit. It is simply a low-cost way to provide limited aerial operations with a minimum crew in specific situations. When used in that role, the concept can provide a powerful addition to many fire departments that would not otherwise have an aerial.

ISO Ratings for Pumpers with Aerials

The Insurance Services Office rates the fire suppression capabilities of departments throughout the United States based on points assigned according to the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule. Separate points are assigned for engine companies and ladder companies. If a department operates a properly equipped pumper with an aerial device, it can potentially receive full engine company points and also may be able to receive partial ladder company points depending on several factors. Here are some things departments should consider:

First, the department must designate when the vehicle responds as an engine company and when it responds as a ladder company. For example, the vehicle may respond as an engine to all fires in 1- or 2-story buildings in its response area, but respond as a ladder to specific taller buildings. When a pumper with an aerial responds as a ladder, engines from surrounding stations would have to respond at the same time to provide the needed number of apparatus at the scene — usually at least two engine companies and one ladder company at all structure fires. This division of duties between the vehicle's use as an engine and a ladder (or platform) must be written in the department's standard operating procedures and dispatching assignments. The department must also have sufficient run records to demonstrate that it follows this procedure in actual practice and not just on paper.

Second, the aerial device on the engine must have sufficient horizontal and vertical extension to reach the roof of any building in the response area. Departments need to consider the setback and difference in elevation from the nearest point of access, as well as the building height when calculating the required aerial length. In some cases, it may require a 65-foot aerial to reach the roof of a 45-foot building. ISO will prorate the points if the aerial does not have sufficient reach. ISO will not give full credit for engines with water towers because those aerial devices do not have a ladder or platform to move personnel. Departments still can get credit for the elevated master stream, however.

Third, the department must ensure the vehicle carries the required engine company and ladder company equipment to perform both of those functions. Most pumpers with aerials already carry a full complement of engine company equipment, but they usually don't have room to carry all the extra ground ladders, pike poles, salvage covers and other ladder company equipment. To maximize the ISO credit as a ladder company, departments should concentrate on the equipment with the most points. For example, an engine equipped with all the required engine company equipment plus a properly sized aerial and an elevated master stream device, but no other ladder equipment, can still obtain more than half of the points as a ladder company when operated in that function. Adding a generator, lights, saws and other tools can gain even more points.

Fourth, departments should be aware that ISO requires engine companies to have four-person crews and ladder companies to have six-person crews to get full points for apparatus staffing. The crews can be paid, paid-call, volunteer or any combination. Departments that respond on a first alarm structure fire with fewer personnel will not get full staffing credit — even if the apparatus is properly specified and equipped. Again, departments need to write this into their standard operating procedures and keep good records to confirm the number of people responding to each fire over the past several years.

Finally, departments that want to run a single pumper with an aerial as both an engine company and a ladder company simultaneously — that is, on the same call — should contact ISO for conditions and restrictions. Engines and aerials perform different functions at fires and they often have to be positioned differently and operated differently. Combining the two functions into one vehicle may not work in every situation, and the actual rating points may depend on the type of structures, exposures and other factors.

For further information about ISO ratings, contact your regional ISO office or go to www.isomitigation.com.