To use a pole, a firefighter grasps it with their hands, then clamps their legs around it, and then replaces their tight hand grip with a looser hand or arm grip to allow themselves to descend, using their legs to control the speed.
Do firefighters still slide down a pole?
Due to the oftentimes unsafe speeds involved with descending fire poles, many stations that still utilize a multi-story structure are replacing the poles with fire slides. This allows the firefighters to drop from a higher floor to the ground floor quickly, but much more safely.
How much does a fireman pole cost?
With safety fixtures, a shiny new brass pole runs about $150,000 — far more than a concrete staircase.
Do traditional pole holes in fire stations pose a risk to firefighters?
While some risks associated with them may be reduced, the use of a pole in lieu of stairs is inherently dangerous. According to the standard, the fire pole opening in fire stations would fall under the definition of floor opening, at CFR 1910.21(a)(2).
How long is a fireman pole?
Dimensions: 104″ High x 22″ Deep. Allow for 10″ to 12″ of height to be anchored in ground.
Do firefighters still use Dalmatians?
Dalmatians and horses are very compatible, so the dogs were easily trained to run in front of the engines to help clear a path and guide the horses and the firefighters to the fires quickly. They are still chosen by many fire fighters as pets in honor of their heroism in the past.
Why do firefighters go down a pole?
A fireman’s pole (also called a firefighter’s pole, sliding pole or fire pole) is a pole on which firefighters slide down to quickly reach the ground floor of a fire station. This allows them to respond to an emergency call faster, as they arrive at the fire engine faster than by using a standard staircase.
How big is the hole for a fireman’s pole?
To install the McIntire Model 19, simply cut or form a hole in the floor 37 1/2″ in diameter.
Why do firehouses have spiral staircases?
The new equipment was too heavy to push by hand, so firehouses began keeping horses to pull the steam engines. … To keep the horses on the lower levels of the stations–for the safety of the horses and the firemen–these stations began installing spiral staircases, making it impossible for the horses to walk upstairs.