Types of Fire Trucks

A fire truck is a large vehicle that carries firefighters and essential equipment to emergency scenes. Fire departments across the country utilize a variety of different types of fire trucks to meet the needs of their communities. From pumper trucks to ladder trucks, each type of fire truck has its own set of functions and capabilities. The National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA Standards for Automotive Fire Apparatus classifies fire trucks into categories called “types,” and each type has specific requirements.

The three main types of fire trucks are pumper trucks, tanker trucks and ladder trucks. Each type of fire truck is equipped to handle a different task, and they are all used in the initial response to an emergency call.

Pumper trucks are a critical piece of the firefighting puzzle that allows firefighters to respond quickly and efficiently to an emergency call. They are equipped with hoses that allow firefighters to use water from a fire hydrant or other sources.

They also have large tanks that hold water in the event that a fire hydrant is not available at an emergency scene. The tanks can be filled with water for fighting the fire, or they can hold other types of liquid such as chemicals and foam.

For more specialized applications, fire departments use tanker trucks to transport additional tools and equipment to the scene of an emergency. These vehicles are equipped with tanker racks that can be loaded with tools for specific applications, such as nozzles, forcible entry equipment or rescue ladders. They can also carry extra supplies for rescuing trapped victims and treating injured personnel.

Ladder trucks are another key piece of the firefighting puzzle, and they are a great tool for fighting fires in high-rise buildings. These vehicles are equipped with ladders that can reach all the way to the top of a building, and they can be extended up to 95 feet in the air. The articulating boom on many ladder trucks allows the ladder to bend in one or more places, which is helpful when climbing through windows and other tight spaces.

As urban communities continue to expand, there is a growing need for fire trucks that can tackle these unique challenges. Luckily, Pierce has engineered the ultimate fire truck to help. The BX Pumper is equipped with a powerful 1,250 gpm water pump in a 34″ pumphouse, multiple crosslay options, lots of compartment space and deck gun capability.

The creation of a standard naming system for fire trucks helps to ensure that the firefighting equipment that is available to firefighters throughout the country can be referred to by all departments as the same thing. This helps with mutual aid and ensures that firefighters are able to request assistance from a fire department that has the proper resources to respond.