Can a free-hanging roof ladder, not on a roof but hanging just from its hooks, support the weight of fire fighters?

A free-hanging roof ladder, when suspended only by its hooks, is not designed to support the weight of firefighters in that configuration. This is due to the ladder's design and construction, which anticipates that the weight will be distributed across the ladder’s structure when placed on a stable surface. The integrity and strength of the ladder are compromised when it is simply hanging from its hooks, as there is no solid surface to distribute the load or stabilize the ladder. Consequently, the weight of firefighters on a free-hanging ladder could cause it to fail, leading to serious safety hazards. Thus, while roof ladders are built to support significant weight when properly positioned, they cannot do so effectively when hanging in mid-air without being supported by a roof or similar structure.