Aerial ladders are used for firefighting and rescue purposes, and were first invented in the late 19th century. Modern aerial ladders are made of strong, lightweight materials and can be quickly raised using hydraulics or electric motors. They are self-supporting and can feature a platform or bucket at the end. Some have automated water delivery systems and a built-in water tank. Fire trucks and vehicles are the most common carriers of aerial ladders.
An aerial ladder is a type of ladder designed to extend, without support, to reach high places. This type of ladder is most commonly installed on fire trucks for firefighting and rescue purposes. Aerial ladders were first invented in the late 19th century in response to the need for longer ladders to help firefighters reach the upper floors of increasingly tall buildings. The first aerial ladders were made of wood and raised by a crank system. Modern aerial ladders are made of strong, lightweight materials, such as aircraft-grade aluminum, and can be quickly raised using hydraulics or electric motors.
Most ladders of this type are constructed by combining two or more sections of braced ladder so that they nest into each other when retracted. They are much sturdier than a standard ladder and the sections will often have a box profile when viewed from the side, with diagonal bracing that can resemble a bridge or roof trusses. An aerial ladder is designed to be self-supporting until it reaches its goal, and some are capable of standing free in space even with the added weight of one or more firefighters.
Modern fire trucks and vehicles are by far the most common carriers of aerial ladders. These devices are important aids in firefighting and rescuing people trapped by fires, as well as other rescue operations involving buildings more than one or two stories above ground. The ladder trucks have been specially developed to use this valuable fire and rescue tool.
The primary use of an aerial ladder is to allow firefighters and other rescue personnel access to elevated locations. Many improvements to the basic idea have expanded its usefulness and effectiveness. An aerial ladder may feature a platform or bucket at the end, to provide firefighters or rescue personnel with a stable place from which to perform their duties while in the air.
Some aerial ladders have automated water delivery systems so firefighters do not have to carry hoses to the top of the ladder. Some may have a fire hose nozzle mounted on a rotating turret that allows a firefighter to quickly and effectively aim a stream where it will do the most. A small built-in water tank may be present on some aerial stairways to provide a supply of water when another source, such as a fire hydrant, is unavailable.
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