Muscatine firefighters recently took their training to new heights — literally — by turning an aerial ladder drill into a friendly game of precision and skill.
During a Friday training exercise at Muscatine Fire Station One, firefighters practiced operating Truck 310’s aerial ladder while attempting to place an orange cone onto three stationary targets positioned at different heights around the station.
The targets included the top of the station’s training tower, a basketball hoop in the alley and a corner of the station roof.
Each firefighter took a turn carefully maneuvering the aerial ladder and bucket, trying to gently place the suspended cone onto each target without knocking it over.
The exercise was designed to help firefighters build the precision and control needed when positioning an aerial ladder during an emergency.
“When operating the aerial during a structure fire, you need the experience to place that ladder exactly where it needs to be — quickly and safely,” Fire Chief Mike Hartman said. “Turning the drill into a game makes the learning more enjoyable for the operator and for everyone cheering from the ground.”
Most firefighters successfully completed all three placements, demonstrating the value of hands-on practice — and a little friendly competition — when developing critical skills.
