Securing Roof Ladders vs. the Ridge Vent
By Michael Ciampo

In today's fire service we find that we must adapt in certain
situations to overcome obstacles on the fireground.
Recently, while I was teaching classes on portable ladders operations
around the country, two obstacles arose. The first concerned a fire
department tool--the roof ladder, sometimes referred to as the hook
ladder. Many newer ladders are being made with the spring-loaded hooks
mounted farther back from the tip of the ladder. In some situations,
this small change hampers fireground operations, especially when
coupled with the next obstacle--the ridge vent. The ridge vent is a vent cut
into the ridge line of a structure, which assists in circulating air in
an attic or cockloft space. The vent is normally capped by asphalt
shingles and could also be capped with an aluminum-type cap. The vent
can be found on truss construction as well as structures with a ridge
pole. In some instances during training, placing the roof ladder up to the
roof with an aluminum-capped vent prevented the ladder from securing
onto the roof properly. This seemed to be because of two reasons:
First, the hooks mounted farther back on the ladder didn't have the reach to
grab into the roof securely; and second, the height of the ridge vent
kept the ladder off the roof. During some evolutions with the asphalt
shingle-capped ridge vent, the roof ladder's hooks pulled the shingles
right off the vent cap. To prevent these situations from occurring
during fireground operations, some changes had to be made to existing
tactics. Some solutions to combat these problems came to mind quickly. Whenever
faced with the aluminum-capped vent, you have two options. First, you
can simply try to smash down the vent with the weight of the roof
ladder to get the ladder to lay flat on the roof and bite into the ridge.
Second, you can try to grab the ridge vent with the hooks of the ladder
and pull it off the ridge. This removes it, resulting in ventilation at
the ridge and the ladder laying flat on the roofline and biting into
the roof ridge.

Note: Always perform a leg lock or use a safety belt when operating off
of an extension ladder while placing a roof ladder into position. This
is extremely important when performing the abovementioned tactic.
On many of the newer ladders, the hooks sit well above the vents and
don't bite into the roof as much as is preferable. A simple solution is
to carry a halligan tool or pickhead ax up the ladder to the ridge and
strike the roof with the point of the tool, approximately where the
hooks of the ladder will set. Then you can insert the roof ladder's
hooks into the holes and it will sit securely onto the roof's surface.
Note: When performing this tactic, if you make only one hole, it will
cause the roof ladder to sit unevenly. If you carry a halligan tool
onto a pitched roof, you can also use it as an additional step for your
foot: Simply drive the point of the tool into the roof and step on the adz
end for support.
 

Additional Safety Considerations
Whenever placing a roof ladder to the ridge, always ensure it
bites into the roof by pulling down on it, especially on asphalt shingle and aluminum ridge vents. When transferring yourself from the extension ladder to the roof ladder, stop momentarily on a rung of the roof ladder to ensure it holds your weight and it is secure. When one member must carry a roof ladder up an extension ladder, it is always easier to carry it at its balance point. The ladder will be balanced for the climb and will also deploy better as you reach the roof line. Make sure the roof ladder's hooks are well-lubricated, and check
them after each use. Roof ladders are not just for winter roof operations. Don't let
a roof's pitch surprise you; operating off a roof ladder is often a
safer operation. Striking the hooks of a roof ladder with a tool to make them
bite into the roof may be your only option. Some minor damage to the
ladder or its mechanisms may occur, but if this is your only choice, do
it! The ladder is replaceable. Your life isn't. Operating on pitched
roofs can be a dangerous operation. Performing these quick and simple
tactics will help ensure your safety when you are faced with certain
obstacles on the fireground.
 

Michael Ciampo is a lieutenant with the Fire Department of New York.
Previously, he served with the Washington, D.C., Fire Department. He is
an instructor for the FDIC and an editorial advisory board member of
Fire Engineering. He has a B.A. in fire science from John Jay College
of Criminal Justice.