Firefighting and Rescue Practice Test 2026 – ICS, Safety, Chemistry, Equipment

The function that locks the extended portion of an extension ladder is the pawl (paws) mechanism. When you extend the fly section, these paws drop into the rungs/notches on the inside of the ladder rails and hold the section at the chosen height, creating a positive lock so the section can’t slide downward while you climb. Other parts have different roles: butt spurs help keep the base from slipping on the surface, ground anchors attach the ladder to a fixed point for extra stability, and ropes are used for lifting or safety lines, not for locking the extended section. So pawls are the component that securely holds the extended section in place.