Ropes and Knots

As the saying goes, “Don’t train until you get it right; train until you can’t get it wrong.”

Ropes and knots training is essential for firefighters. There are thousands of knots—and just as many ways to use them. Learning to tie them is only half the battle. The other half is applying them effectively on the fireground—under stress, wearing bulky gloves, and often in challenging conditions.

That’s why so many recruit schools and academies require probationary firefighters to carry short sections of rope at all times. It’s a rite of passage. Instructors will randomly call on recruits to tie a specific knot—and their ability to do so might mean the difference between push-ups or a 10-minute break.

When a firefighter working on a roof calls for tools to be hauled up, there are right ways—and wrong ways—to tie those tools to the rope. Mastering these knots can make all the difference in safety and efficiency.