Holiday Park VFD hosted a special Ladder Truck Operations class at our station on September 14th & 15th that was opened to surrounding fire departments who operate ladder trucks. The class is taught by retired FDNY Lt. Mike Wilbur of Ladder 27 (Bronx); who is also owner of Emergency Vehicle Response and contributor to numerous fire service trade publications. Mike is a 27 year veteran of the fire service, both career & volunteer, and a consultant on aerial vehicle design.
The 2-day class exposed current apparatus drivers and line officers to techniques to improve their use of aerial-ladder and tower-ladder apparatus on the fire ground. Mike reviewed what you can and cannot do with the tools on the apparatus in all environments including tight streets and building layouts. Crews went through custom evolutions of placing the apparatus, maneuvering the main aerial, utilizing all tools on-board, and overall safety of the crews.
Holiday Park VFD was joined by crews from Upper Burrell VFD, Murrysville VFD, Hilltop Hose VFD, Monroeville VFD #4, and Penn Hills VFD #5 for the class.
Want to be apart of our training program? Have your department added to our training email list by sending a email to chief@holidayparkvfd.org
Photos from the 2-day course: 
