What is the angle of departure?

• A. The angle formed by level ground and a line from the rear tires touching the ground to the lowest projection at the rear of the apparatus
• B. The angle formed by level ground and a line from the front tires touching the ground to the lowest projection at the front of the vehicle
• C. The angle between the ground and the vehicle's roof
• D. The angle of the vehicle's front bumper relative to the ground

Answer: (A)

Angle of departure describes how much clearance the rear of a fire apparatus has as it leaves a surface. It is defined by the angle formed between level ground and a line drawn from the point where the rear tires touch the ground up to the lowest rear projection of the vehicle. This shows the rear-end clearance when backing away from a curb, dock, or edge—the larger the angle, the better the vehicle can depart without the rear underside scraping. It focuses on the rear end, not the roof, front bumper, or any front-end measurements.