Types of Fire Trucks

Firefighters depend on mission-ready trucks to respond quickly and safely to emergencies. Unfortunately, fire departments are finding that it’s more difficult to get the new vehicles they need than ever before. Rising costs, long delivery delays and a consolidation of the industry have left many departments with dilapidated fleets that are more likely to break down during an emergency. The problem is that fire truck manufacturers are ratcheting up prices on the trucks they build and failing to meet delivery deadlines on those they do. This is creating serious problems for departments that are relying on mutual aid agreements and purchasing the used fire trucks they need to keep their operations running.

Historically, the firefighting industry was made up of small local manufacturers who built dozens or even hundreds of trucks per year. But the industry has been changing since the coronavirus pandemic, with Wall Street investors leading an aggressive consolidation strategy to boost profits. This has created a backlog of orders for the vehicles that are vital to keeping communities safe. Many departments that ordered their fire trucks during the pandemic have experienced delayed deliveries and are struggling to find parts for the aging rigs that are already on the road.

The types of fire trucks vary by department needs and the type of fire they are most commonly called to respond to. Regardless of the type of fire truck, it must comply with NFPA standards. Generally, a fire department will have an engine company, ladder truck or wildland firefighting vehicle in its fleet. The engine company, also known as a fire pumper or structural firefighting truck, is the most common firetruck in use today. It is designed to carry the full complement of NFPA firefighting equipment, including a fire hose and water pump capable of transferring up to 1000 gallons of water a minute.

A ladder truck is a vehicle that includes a boom that can be extended to reach tall structures like buildings or trees. It can also be lowered to the ground to assist with rescuing people from dangerous situations. It is often used to fight grass and brush fires, but can be utilized at structural and chemical incidents.

A wildland fire truck is a firefighting vehicle that sits on a commercial 4×4 chassis and can handle off-road terrain and variable conditions. These vehicles can help with structural fires and initial emergency medical response for priority 1 incidents – patients who are life-threatening or potentially life-threatening. These firefighting vehicles usually have a GVWR between 26,000 and 14,000 pounds. This type of fire truck can be seen in both rural and urban settings. These vehicles can be equipped with a power-take-off (PTO) pump that allows the firetruck to remain in motion during fire suppression. The PTO pumps can be powered by the vehicle’s gasoline or diesel fuel.