What You Should Know About Fire Trucks

The modern fire truck is often associated with flashing lights, blaring sirens and a powerful water tank. These vehicles are the vehicles that help firefighters reach emergency scenes safely, transport equipment and deliver life-saving services to people in need. When people see a fire truck, they are seeing the results of true bravery and the dedication of a large group of firefighters that work hard to protect lives and property from dangerous situations like fires and medical emergencies.

While there are many different types of fire trucks, the most common is a Type 1 fire engine. These fire trucks are designed to support structural firefighting and initial Emergency Medical Service (EMS) response for both residential and commercial properties.

Other types of fire trucks are dedicated to specific tasks, such as airport crash trucks and wildland firefighting vehicles. These trucks are specialized to address these situations and are staffed by highly-trained firefighters. Airport crash trucks, also known as ARFF vehicles, are specifically designed to tackle aircraft fires and are equipped with advanced firefighting agents. They are able to spray water or foam while moving to quickly spread the agents over large areas of the runway. They are the fastest fire trucks in the world and rely on hydraulic systems to achieve such high speeds.

Municipal fire trucks, on the other hand, are used to fight fires in communities. These fire trucks typically use water and pumps to extinguish flames, but they can also use foam, a dry chemical agent or other special liquids to suppress a fire. They use large water tanks and are staffed by full-time firefighters.

Each fire department is unique, so it’s important to consider their specific needs when choosing a fire truck. The vehicle’s cab must be spacious enough to comfortably accommodate all of the firefighters it is meant to carry, as well as provide room for their gear and supplies. The cab must also be equipped with a radio system and computer for communication with the fire station and other firefighters heading to an incident.

Many fire departments choose to decorate their vehicles with bold, eye-catching markings to make them easily visible in poor conditions. While the color red is a classic, other departments opt for less traditional shades like white with blue stripes.

Compartmentation on a fire truck varies between departments, but the goal is to reduce the risk of exposure to carcinogens. Pierce offers compartmentation solutions like a Carcinogen Awareness and Reduction to Exposure (CARE) kit, which can be customized by each department to meet their unique needs.

Another consideration when acquiring a new fire truck is its fuel source. All departments, no matter their size, want to reduce emissions and fuel consumption to lower their environmental footprint. One option is an electric fire truck, which uses an all-electric drive train and leverages an internal combustion engine for extended operations when necessary. Compared to traditional gas-powered fire apparatus, an electric fire truck produces zero tailpipe emissions and cuts harmful greenhouse gases.