CDE #44549 COMMON FIRE APPARATUS AND WHAT THE TELECOMMUNI NEEDS TO KNOW By Christian Lyons The history of the fire service in the United States begins in 1648 when the Director-General of New Amsterdam (now New York), Peter Stuyvesant, appointed four fire wardens. Boston followed suit in 1653 with the formation of a fire company, and Boston s first horse-drawn fire engine was purchased in 1654. PSC apcointl.org Since the horse-drawn fire engines of the 1600s, the need for fire suppression in the United States has risen, and with it, the need for more sophisticated equipment. Today s fire trucks are highly specialized and sophisticated pieces of equipment. In fire service language, any vehicle that serves a specific function, other than just transportation of people, is called fire apparatus. Fire apparatus is categorized by what function it can perform. Examples of these functions are: Transport hose Transport ladders and equipment Pump water Transport water Transport personnel Other specialized tasks The following paragraphs will describe some of the more common fire service apparatus. Some of these apparatus may be known by a different name, depending on local custom, or may not be used within your local departments. The telecommunicator should learn the specific apparatus used within their local departments and be familiar with their functions. 32
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PSC apcointl.org ENGINES (ALSO KNOWN AS A PUMPER) Engine FROM THE WINNETKA ILLINOIS FIRE DEPARTMENT. COURTESY OF STEVE REDICK. An engine is one of the most common types of fire apparatus designed for fire attack. An engine has a self-contained, selfpropelled water pump. Its primary function is to provide pressurized water. The vehicle s engine is connected to a pump that operates while the vehicle is stationary. It takes water from a small onboard tank that usually contains about 500+ gallons of water and pumps it out at a pressure through various outlets to the hoses. Most modern fire pumps can pump over 1,500 gallons per minute (GPM). Most engines carry ground ladders, hoses and self-contained breathing apparatus for the crew and have the ability to supply foam. They are self-contained firefighting vehicles usually carrying four personnel and are often the only apparatus to respond to small fire emergencies. TRUCKS Truck COURTESY OF LINCOLNSHIRE-RIVERWOODS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, LINCOLNSHIRE, ILLINOIS. Depending on the region you live in, a truck may be known as a ladder, aerial, platform, tower or bucket truck. A truck carries a large complement of ladders and equipment. The equipment may include lights, generators, salvage equipment, overhaul tools, forcible entry tools and rescue tools. High-reach ladder equipment is needed at many fires, so a truck may have some type of hydraulic-operated, apparatus-mounted aerial device. These are the giant ladders or snorkels (articulating booms) seen on some apparatus. They also have a metal telescoping water pipe that extends and contracts with the movement of the ladder. The water pipe can provide highly pressurized water from the end of it. Once the ladder is raised, it can spray water down on top of the fire. Depending on the technology of the ladder truck, it may or may not require a firefighter to man the end of the ladder and nozzle. Most modern-day hydraulic ladders can be operated by a firefighter on the ground. QUINTS A quint is an apparatus that can perform five of the major functions of a fire apparatus. A quint can carry hose, carry and pump water and perform aerial ladder and water tower operations. A quint may also carry numerous ground ladders. BRUSH TRUCKS (ALSO KNOWN AS GRASS WAGONS, FORESTRY TRUCKS, OR PATROL VEHICLES) Brush Truck COURTESY OF SNOWMASS-WILDCAT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, SNOWMASS VILLAGE, COLORADO. A brush truck is an apparatus for fighting wildland or grass fires. Most brush trucks are four-wheel drive because they are required to respond to areas that are off road, where terrain can be rough and rugged. They are typically much smaller and lighter than a fire engine, and typically carry between two and four firefighters. Brush trucks are often custom built on a heavyduty pickup truck chassis or even specialized vehicles like Humvees or retired military vehicles that are already built to respond off road. Typically, a brush truck has a 200- to 500-gallon water tank mounted in the bed of the truck and a pump attached. One of the biggest differences between a brush truck and an engine is that the brush truck does not have to be stationary in order to pump water. A brush truck can pump water while moving along the fire line, allowing firefighters to extinguish the fire while the pump is continuously engaged and the truck is in motion. SQUADS Squad COURTESY OF DEERFIELD-BANNOCKBURN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, DEERFIELD, ILLINOIS. A squad has special tools and equipment not carried on all apparatus, including salvage covers, cribbing, forcible entry tools, shovels, ropes, chains, air masks, spare air bottles, lighting, lift jacks and extrication equipment. Some agencies may consider this a moving toolbox. TANKERS OR TENDERS Both the words tanker and tender have been used almost interchangeably by people in the past. As with so many things in the fire service, a lot of the language used in the fire service depends on where you are. One of the reasons for the design of NIMS (National Incident Management System) was to help stop any confusion and to help people in different locations speak the same language and be able to communicate successfully at incidents. Here are three different agency s definitions that can lead to the confusion: UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE (USFS) Water Tender: When water is required, water delivery is important. The typical water tender carries 1,200 gallons of water to support the fire engines and crews. Water tenders are used to fill waterdropping helicopters when a lake or reservoir is nearby. NATIONAL WILDLIFE COORDINATING GROUP (NWCG) Air Tanker: Fixed-wing aircraft certified by FAA as being capable of transport and delivery of fire retardant solutions. 34
Tanker or water truck COURTESY OF LONG GROVE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, LONG GROVE, ILLINOIS. NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (NIMS) Tender, Foam (Firefighting Foam Tender): The apparatus used to mix concentrate with water to make solution, pump, and mix air and solution to make foam, and transport and apply foam. Tender, Fuel (Fuel Tender): Any vehicle capable of supplying fuel to ground or airborne equipment. Tender, Helicopter (Helicopter Tender): A ground service vehicle capable of supplying fuel and support equipment to helicopters. Water Truck (Tender or Tanker): A truck with a permanently mounted water tank with the capabilities of dispensing potable or non-potable water. The dispensing is handled through gravity or a pump. For pumping action, the truck s engine or transmission is usually used to generate the required dispensing energy. Uses can range from delivering potable water to shelter locations and non-potable water for irrigation, assisting in wildfire situations, dust control, compaction requirements, flushing of storm conveyance sanitary sewer lines and washing areas of dirt, debris and dust. According to NIMS, the terms tanker or tender can be used interchangeably when discussing a water tanker or water tender. However, the word tender can also be applied to the supplying of foam, fuel or helicopter support. In these cases, the tender helps to supply something to another piece of apparatus. In the case of water tanker or tender, the purpose is to supply water to other pieces of apparatus in firefighting operations, as well as delivering potable and non-potable water for other situations as listed above. SEARCH AND RESCUE VEHICLES Search and rescue vehicles carry equipment used for forcible entry and building ventilation. Staffing varies, but in most cases, the crew includes certified EMTs or paramedics. Search and rescue vehicles are tailored to the mission they were assigned to and vary greatly from department to department. For example, departments that serve a subway system may have a rescue vehicle outfitted to include subway emergencies. Likewise, in mountainous areas, a specialized rescue vehicle may be outfitted to include mountain rescue equipment. Urban areas may have special vehicles for stabilization and rescue from collapsed structures. The terms light and heavy rescue refer to capabilities, equipment and training of the unit. Heavy rescue vehicles contain specialized equipment such as concrete saws, carrying rams, rope and multiple hydraulic tools for structure stabilization and other special rescue situations, not necessarily carried on lighter rescue vehicles. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (HAZMAT) VEHICLES A HAZMAT vehicle manages the identification and containment of hazardous materials incidents. These units may carry computers, modems, cellular phones, communications links, protective suits, decontamination equipment, etc. These units vary greatly from department to department, depending upon the size of the department, area served and need. Some departments have HAZMAT vehicles that are mobile laboratories capable of analyzing and monitoring a variety of contaminants. APCO offers a Fire Service Communications course that explains these apparatus and others. The course also includes many other important topics that telecommunicators need to know. They include fire service history and organizational structure; fire equipment and operational terminology; fire service communications including call processing and dispatch procedures; NIMS/ ICS; hazardous material incidents; and terrorism incidents. Christian Lyons is the Assistant Director of the Regional Emergency Dispatch (RED) Center in Northbrook, Illinios, a contributing editor of APCO s Fire Service Communications course, and an Adjunct Instructor for the APCO Institute. RED Center provides centralized fire communications for 14 fire departments and protection districts including Division 3 of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) in the northern suburbs of Chicago. References: (2013), Fire Service Communications (2nd Edition), APCO Institute. PSC November/December 2017 35
CDE EXAM #44549 1. According to NIMS, a tanker or tender can be used interchangeably when discussing a water tanker or water tender. 2. As stated in the article, the terms light and heavy rescue refer to capabilities, and training of the unit. 3. HAZMAT vehicles may carry computers, modems, cellular phones, communications links, protective suites and decontamination equipment. 4. NWCG defines an as a fixed-wing aircraft certified by FAA as being capable of transport and delivery of fire retardant solutions. 5. One of the reasons for the design of NIMS (National Incident Management System) was to help stop any confusion and to help people in different locations speak the same language and be able to communicate successfully at incidents. 6. The first fire engines in the United States were invented in the 1600s and pulled by Dalmatians. 7. An engine has a self-contained, self-propelled water. Its primary function is to provide pressurized water. a. Pump b. Propeller c. Tank d. Extinguisher 8. Depending on the region you live in, a truck may be known as a: a. Ladder, Airplane, Platform, Tower or Bucket Truck b. Hose, Ladder, Aerial, Tower or Bucket Truck c. Ladder, Aerial, Platform, Tower or Bucket Truck d. Utliity, Ladder, Tower or Bucket Truck 9. A brush truck is an apparatus for fighting petroleum or aircraft fires. 10. Some agencies may consider this a moving toolbox. a. Pumper b. Hose wagon c. Squad d. Multi-purpose rig PSC apcointl.org FOR CREDIT TOWARD APCO RECERTIFICATION(S) Each CDE article is equal to one credit hour of continuing education 1. Study the CDE article in this issue. 2. Answer the test questions online or on the exam page from the magazine article (photocopies are not required). 3. List the CDE article information on the Continuing Education Reporting form included with your recertification documents, when you submit for renewal. Questions? Call us at 1-888-APCO-9-1-1 (1-888-272-6911) You can access the CDE exam online! To receive a complimentary certificate of completion, you may take the CDE exam online. Go to http://apco.remote-learner. net/login/index.php to create your username and password. Enter the CDE article in the search box, and click on the 2017 Public Safety Communications Magazine Article Exams, then click on enroll me and choose Fitness in the Call Center (44548) to begin the exam. Upon successful completion of the quiz, a certificate of achievement will be available for download/printing. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE THE CDE ARTICLES FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN APCO RECERTIFICATIONS AND NEED A PRINTED COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE: Complete the written exam and submit the following: 1. Answer the exam questions online, and fill out the form below. Photocopies are acceptable, but please don t enlarge them. 2. Mail to: APCO Institute 351 N. Williamson Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 3. Payment of $15 Name: Organization: Address: Phone: Email: Method of Payment (US funds only) Check Purchase Order (attach copy) New Jersey Original Purchase Order Only Credit Card (circle one) VISA MASTERCARD DISCOVER AMEX Card #: Expiration Date: Name on Card: Cardholder s Address: Cardholder s Email Address: 36