A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes an aerial ladder, a side stack hose bed and a side access ladder that provides access to the aerial ladder when the aerial ladder obstructs another access ladder. The side stack hose bed is mounted to a frame in a rearward portion of the apparatus. A first side access ladder is mounted to a first side of the frame forward of the side stack hose bed and optionally forward of the rear axle. Another second side access ladder is mounted to a second side of the frame. A movable side stack hose bed cover extends over the hose bed, and can include a rigid plate extending from the first side access ladder toward the aerial ladder. The first side access ladder and hose bed cover cooperatively form a path from a ground location toward the aerial ladder to facilitate access to the aerial ladder.