9 minute read
The history and evolution of ground ladders
The history and evolution of ground ladders
Ladders have existed for thousands of years, with archaeological findings such as a 10 000-year-old ladder found in a Neolithic settlement in Spain. However, their adaptation for firefighting is much more recent. In early urban environments, ladders were used to access upper storeys during rescues or firefighting efforts but there was no formal design or standard.
Ladders have been a fundamental firefighting tool for centuries, evolving from simple wooden ladders to sophisticated aerial devices. Initially used for accessing roofs and saving lives, they have become indispensable for rescue, access, ventilation and fire stream operations.
Pre-industrial use
Firefighting in ancient Rome under the Cohortes Vigilum, established circa 6AD, may have included wooden ladders for access and rescue. These ladders were heavy, hand-carried and lacked any standardisation or fire-specific features.
The 18th and 19th Centuries: Birth of organised fire services
As organised fire brigades emerged in the 18th Century, especially in Europe and North America, the need for standardised equipment grew. Ground ladders became an essential part of the firefighter’s toolkit.
The earliest use of ladders for firefighting appears to have been for the accessing and removing of thatched roofs of buildings, with suggestions the practice dates back to the Roman Empire. As buildings grew taller, their use for saving life became apparent and following the invention of fire hoses the opportunities for gaining access to upper stories for firefighting also increased.
The hook ladder
The hook ladder, also known as a pompier ladder, from the French pompier meaning firefighter, is a type of ladder that can be attached to a window sill or similar ledge by the use of a hooked extending bill with serrations on the underside. The hooked ladder then hangs suspended vertically down the face of the building.
The ladder was developed to access buildings via enclosed alleys, lightwells and yards to which other types of ladder could not be taken. A pair of men and two ladders could be used to scale a building to considerable heights, by climbing from floor to floor and taking the ladders up behind and pitching to the next floor.
Historical French design
The original French design was a single beam ladder with pairs of rungs projected outward on both sides of the beam. The British version was a conventional two-string ash ladder around four metres long and 25 centimetres wide.
Hook ladders can be used to scale from floor to floor on multi-storey buildings by way of exterior windows. The ladders hook onto the window ledge by a "gooseneck" projecting from the top. Lengths vary from three to five metres.
Early pumping engines
The early pumping engines were too small to carry ladders on board, so they were carried by the responding firefighters. The need for longer and disproportionally heavier, ladders and the later use of extendable ladders of even greater weight soon led to the development of means of transporting them.
In the United States, Hook and Ladder Trucks had appeared by the start of the 19th Century. These were usually a four-wheel wagon, either hand or (later) horse drawn, with racks and brackets by which a number of long ladders, hooks, buckets, axes, etc could be transported to the fireground.
Conversely in the early 19th Century, the United Kingdom began to develop its version of ladders utilised for rescue. Taking a slightly different approach then the USA, England saw the formation of a group known as ‘The Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire’. The organisation began in 1836 and their main focus was on the deployment of escape ladders and portable ladder units to assist in the rescuing people from fire.
The early versions of escape ladders comprised of a single ladder length of about six to seven metres, with a canvas ‘chute’ to assist in evacuation of victims. Additional heights could be achieved by adding a portable ladder. Large versions evolved from this, using one or two addition sliding lengths within the ladder allowing height up to 20m. These were transported on vehicles, initially hand drawn and horse drawn carriages.
By 1865, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act in the UK placed the responsibility of providing an efficient fire brigade onto the Metropolitan Board of Works and the equipment and staff of the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire were absorbed into the new organisation.
Escape ladders would be introduced to Australia in 1854/55 by T Bown, the superintendent at the time for the Insurance Fire Brigade Company in Sydney. Bown would acquire a single Wivell Fire Escape Ladder unit which would be used by his company for the next decade. Whilst Bown went about acquiring the Escape Ladder, Andrew Torning, the “father of volunteer firefighting”, who had a vested interest in rescue techniques formerly complained in 1877 that the insurance brigades were more concerned with saving property than with saving life and hence the Escape Ladder was falling into disrepair from neglect. As a result, Torning would commission the manufacturing of his own ladder truck, which was made in 1877 by Mr William Halley, being inspired by the Hook and Ladder Companies, which could be found in the USA.
Interestingly, by the late 1880s, escape ladders would continue to be uncommon with few brigades actually possessing their own escape ladder unit. Superintendent Bear, the first chief officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB; now known as Fire and Rescue NSW, FRNSW) would go on to state in 1888 how their use in Sydney was hindered by overhead tram and telephone wires as well as the operation of such Escape Ladders and appropriate crew being too costly a service to ever ask the average taxpayer to support. Ultimately this led to escape ladders not being more widely adopted in Sydney until the turn of the century once issues like telephone wires had been resolved by being installed underground.
During the 1910s, some of the wheeled escape and curricle ladders of the horse drawn era were transferred onto motor appliances in the fleet but by the 1920s they were removed and no longer utilised by the brigade.
Whilst wheeled escape ladders fell out of use in Sydney in the 1920s, other states and territories would continue to utilise them for much longer. The one on display at the Museum of Fire was manufactured by Merryweather for the Darwin Fire Brigade in the 1950s. Other states would continue using them until the 1980s and Melbourne would possess a wheeled escape ladder which they use up until 2006.
Key milestones
Joseph Winters, inventor of an improved fire escape ladder with a sizer lift in 1878, making it easier for firefighters to handle ladders.
Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company introduced a double-banked ladder rack in 1923, allowing ladders to be stored efficiently. The air hoist ladder mechanism, refined by Ahrens-Fox, was a significant advancement, improving efficiency and replacing spring mechanisms.
In the 1930s, Sam Carbis revolutionised ground ladders with the invention of the aluminium ground extension ladder. This new design gained popularity quickly, becoming the standard in many fire departments worldwide. Aluminium ladders were lighter, taller, offered better grip for wet gloves and boots and supported heavier load capacities.
Materials and construction: Traditional materials
Wood: Early ladders were constructed from hardwoods like oak and ash, offering strength but resulting in heavy, cumbersome equipment. For a long time, wood was the primary material for firefighting ladders, prized for its ability to resist electricity and heat, as well as its strength. Frederick Seagrave's wooden ladders became a mainstay.
Steel
Introduced for its strength, steel ladders were heavier and more prone to heat-related deformations.
Shift to aluminium
Aluminium alloys: By the mid20th Century, aluminium alloys became the material of choice. They offered a balance between strength and weight, improving manoeuvrability and reducing fatigue for firefighters.
Fibreglass
Non-conductive and resistant to corrosion, fibreglass ladders became popular for scenarios involving electrical hazards. However, they are generally heavier than aluminium alternatives.
Trussed beams
Trussed beam ladders offer a lighter alternative to solid beam ladders, while maintaining strength.
Aerial devices
Modern aerial ladder trucks, mounted on fire trucks, are designed for maximising vertical reach and are crucial for rescue, ventilation and fire extinguishment operations.
Mid to late 20th Century: Technological refinement
Modern ladder designs: Beam types: Box beam, I-beam, truss beam constructions emerged. Extension ladders became standard for reaching multi-story buildings. Ladders ranged in length from 10ft (attic ladders) to 50ft (Bangor ladders).
Heat sensitivity
Heat sensors were introduced to indicate if a ladder had been exposed to temperatures that might compromise integrity, typically 149 degrees Celsius.
Specialisation
• Ground ladders were tailored for various purposes:• Roof ladders with hooks for pitched roof access.• Attic ladders for tight quarters.• Fresno ladders for narrow alleyways or internal stairwells.
21st Century: safety, ergonomics and materials science
Composite materials: Introduction of fibreglass composite ladders, especially for applications near electrical hazards. These offer non-conductive properties but are generally heavier than aluminium.
Ergonomic improvements
Design optimisations reduced weight while improving grip and stability. Anti-slip rungs, improved foot pads and better balance points were incorporated.
Integration with modern firefighting tactics
• Ground ladders continue to be essential despite the rise of aerial apparatus:• Used in vent-enter-search (VES) operations.• Provide redundant access or egress points.• Used in areas where aerial apparatus can't reach due to terrain or congestion.
While many departments have transitioned to aluminium, a few still use wooden ladders, with the San Francisco Fire Department being the most notable. They remain the only department that uses custom-built, handcrafted wooden ladders.
Conclusion
From primitive wooden tools to precision-engineered lifesaving devices, the ground ladder remains an iconic and essential piece of firefighting equipment. Its evolution reflects broader trends in materials science, safety engineering and operational tactics. As firefighting continues to face new challenges, the ground ladder will undoubtedly continue to adapt, preserving its place as one of the most trusted tools in the firefighter's arsenal.
Sources: Museum of Fire Heritage Team, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations 5th Edition 2008, International Fire Service Training Association, NFPA, London Fire Brigade, San Francisco Fire Department
