Last edited 06 Sep 2024

Aerial appliance

The London Fire Brigade defines aerial appliances as specialised fire engines or trucks equipped with large, extendable ladders or platforms that can reach high places. They are used for various tasks, including: Firefighting: Delivering water from above to douse fires. As such might be defined in three categories; aerial ladder appliances (installed directly on fire engines or on a separate trailer attached to an engine), elevated platform appliances and elevated water appliances.

Such appliances are used for a number of different tasks, including:

  • Firefighting: Delivering water from above to douse fires.
  • Rescue Operations: Reaching and rescuing people trapped at high elevations.
  • Observation: Providing a vantage point for assessing fire scenes or other situations.
  • Lighting: Illuminating areas during emergencies, especially in low visibility conditions.

These appliances are particularly useful in scenarios where access to elevated areas is needed, such as in tall buildings or difficult terrain. As such the term was also referred to in the Phase 2 final report of the Grenfell tragedy enquiry.

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