Firefighting and Rescue ICS, Safety, Fire Chemistry, and Equipment Practice Test

The base is held in place by the paws. These are the bottom feet of the ladder that contact the ground and are designed to grip and distribute the load, giving the ladder its primary stability. Rubber or non-slip material on the paws helps prevent slipping on various surfaces, and they’re what keep the ladder from sliding while you climb.

Ropes and ground anchors are external measures you might use in special setups to add security, but they’re not the primary means by which an extended ladder stays put during normal use. Butt spurs are attachments intended to contact a wall or edge to reduce lateral movement, but they don’t provide the essential grip on the ground by themselves.