Fire Trucks – The Lifelines of Fire Departments

Fire trucks are the lifelines that fire departments rely on to reach incidents quickly. These vehicles not only transport firefighters and their equipment, but they also carry specialized tools like water pumps and ladders to help fight fires. Firefighters are also required to wear protective clothing and use vehicles equipped with storage solutions for their gear. Fire departments are responsible for evaluating and selecting the best fire trucks for their needs, and each truck is different depending on its intended role.

Municipal fire trucks are typically based on commercial vehicle chassis that have been modified and equipped with emergency lighting, sirens and communication systems. Depending on the type of vehicle, some may be able to seat more than one person and have the ability to drive over uneven ground or other obstacles that might block their way to an emergency scene.

While the general configuration of fire trucks is consistent, many fire departments choose to customize their fleets and designs. Some, for example, opt for brighter colors such as red with blue stripes to increase visibility and others use less conventional color combinations like white with gold trim. While the specific configuration of fire trucks varies by fire department, each must comply with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for firefighting apparatus.

A firefighter’s primary tool in fighting fires is water, and each fire truck has a different capacity for this substance. NFPA standards require that municipal fire trucks have a minimum of 500 gallons of water in their tanks and a pump capable of delivering a minimum of 150 US gallons per minute at a pressure of 250 pounds per square inch.

Some fire trucks also have a specialty component known as an articulating arm, which can be used to extend a ladder over a structure or object. Other tools include water hoses that connect from the tank to the pump and out through the nozzle, as well as ground ladders and rescue ropes. In addition, firefighting crews must have access to a variety of other essential tools like computers and two-way radios to communicate with the fire station and each other while at the incident site.

Unlike a standard fire engine, airport fire trucks have far less access to nearby water supplies from fire hydrants and must therefore carry their own water supply with them. This makes them much larger in size than traditional fire engines and requires them to have a greater maximum vehicle weight rating than other types of firetrucks. For this reason, airport fire trucks like the Oshkosh Striker(r) 8×8 are designed to deliver rapid response times while maximizing load capacity to allow for the transportation of more water and equipment.

Firefighting equipment is expensive, and many fire departments must carefully manage their budgets to ensure they have the equipment they need in the event of a crisis. This is why it’s important for fire departments to partner with a manufacturer that can work with them to design and build the right firetruck to meet their needs. Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus offers a wide range of custom-built options to accommodate the unique requirements of each fire department and its community.