Elizabeth Bailey
Those passing by the Greensburg Fire Station, Monday, were greeted with the site of a fully-extended, 102-foot ladder manned by firefighters.
Each Monday, Greensburg Fire Chief Scott Chasteen explained, the department runs the ladders. This week, the firemen took the opportunity for some training.
“We train about once a month,” firefighter Kyle Pruitt noted.
After donning approximately 60 pounds of equipment, including air masks and tanks, the members of the firefighting force climbed to the top of the ladder, practicing passing each other along the way.
Although most would be hard-pressed to think of many 102-foot buildings within the jurisdiction of the Greensburg station, Chasteen explained the truck must be kept outside of the collapse zone of buildings, which is one-and-a-half times the height of the structure. Having a long ladder increases the reach of firemen battling blazes in structures tall or short.
Although it was not part of Monday’s training, other training exercises are a stiff competition for the quickest time to the top of the ladder or to the completion of the training task. When fighting fires, time is of the essence.
