For several years, the union of your fire department has complained that leadership in fire administration has used noncertified aerial ladder operators. The claim is that when those who are certified call in sick or are on vacation, noncertified firefighters are used to staff the aerial ladder. Late one night, the aerial ladder team responded as mutual aid to a high-rise structure fire in a neighboring community and was assigned rescue operations.

The noncertified operator positioned the ladder to make a rescue when command noticed the person leaning out the window screaming for help was not in danger, leaving multiple others in danger with fire and smoke pushing out around them. Command ordered the aerial to reposition the ladder to rescue those in the most danger. In the noncertified operator's haste, he struck an overhead power line, killing him and injuring several firefighters around the apparatus.

Place yourself in the position of a chief fire officer as you consider the preceding scenario, and respond to either question 1 or question 2:

• Legally and lawfully, should firefighters assigned to aerial apparatuses have a comprehensive understanding of aerial ladder operations? Why, or why not?
• Was the placement or repositioning of the ladder a lawful command? Should there be any civil or criminal charges against the business, contractor, or chief officer? Why, or why not?