WILDFIRE OPERATOR TRAINING MANUAL 1
WildFire Component Locations Turn Signal Switch Accessory Switch Panel Generator Start/Stop Switch and Hour Meter Fig. 1 Brake Pedal Gas Pedal 2
WildFire Component Locations Master Switch Fig. 2 3
WildFire Component Locations Emergency Brake Handle Power Steering Fault Light Siren Head Gear Selector Switch Ignition Switch Function Switch for Instrument Panel Head Light Switch Six Wheel Drive Switch Fig. 3 4
WildFire Component Locations Battery Condition Light Power Steering Fault Light Fig. 4 5
WildFire Component Locations Under Dash Heater Control Knob Under Dash Heater Fan Speed Control Knob Fig. 5 6
WildFire Component Locations Under Dash Heater Fig. 6 7
WildFire Component Locations Gas Shut Off For Generator Check Valve Fig 7 Gas Supply For Generator 8
WildFire Component Locations Air Filter Start Stop Switch Circuit Breaker Fuel Filter Fig 8 Oil Dip Stick 9
WildFire Component Locations Power Steering Brain In Line Fuses Battery solenoid Polaris Battery Transfer Switch Charge Status Light On Board Battery Charger 10
WildFire Component Locations Steel Mesh Windshield Emergency Light Roof Rear Scene Lights Bush Guard Tank Fill Tower Foam Fill Tank Fig. 9 Hose Reel Aux. Gas Tank 11
WildFire Component Locations Tool Box With Stokes Basket Mounting Steel Mesh Windshield Fig. 10 Head Light Guard Brush Guard Front Winch 12
WildFire Component Locations Discharge Port Pump & Motor Stokes Basket Ratchet Suction Port ABS Skirting Running Lights Hand Primer Pump Hand Primer Pump Shut off Valve Hard Suction Storage Foam System Rear Step Fig. 11 13
WildFire Component Locations Hose reel Supply Valve Hand Primer Valve Tank Fill Hose Hose Reel Hose Foam Supply Hose Tank to Pump Hose Hand Primer Supply Hose Hand Primer Fig. 12 14
Tank Fill Valve Rear Discharge Valve Tank To Pump Valve Discharge Pressure Gauge Rear Inlet Or Draft Valve Rear Inlet Hand Primer Over Flow Hose Foam Control Valve Foam Consistency Control Knob Fig. 13 Pump Drain 15
WildFire Component Locations Fuel Tank Valve Ignition Engine Choke Fig 14 Throttle 16
Starting the Vehicle Place foot on the brake pedal. Turn the key to the on position. Look at instrument panel and make sure the unit is in neutral, if not move the shifter to the neutral position. With foot still on brake turn the key to the start position. Before applying the gas make sure emergency brake is released. (If it s not the engine will loop or miss.) Driving the Vehicle With foot on brake, shift to the desired gear. Low range only when transporting a patient, carrying more that two passengers, traveling up and down hills, carrying more than 500lbs of equipment. High range only when on flat open road or path, carrying two or less people, carrying less than 500 lbs of equipment, or not towing. *NOTICE* - VEHICLE MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO SHIFT GEARS FROM: LOW TO HIGH HIGH TO LOW LOW TO NEUTRAL NEUTRAL TO REVERSE REVERSE TO NEUTRAL Catastrophic failure will result if shifting while moving Six wheel drive can be engaged and disengaged while moving (on the fly) or while sitting still. 17
Electrical Deep Cycle Battery, On Board Charger, Master Switch, Battery Brain (Electrical Load Manager). Deep Cycle Battery Runs all 12 volt lighting (interior, emergency, scene), windshield wiper, A/C control panel, 12 volt outlet in rear compartment, generator starter, dash mounted defroster fan and under dash heater fan. (Deep Cycle Battery is located under the bottom seat cushion under the driver). On-Board Charger Charges the deep cycle battery and the Polaris battery in two ways: When the unit is plugged into the shoreline connection via an extension cord. or When you start the on board generator (If your unit is equipped with a generator) The shoreline connection should be used anytime 110 volt power is available. The unit should be plugged into a 110 volt outlet daily when the unit is not in use, to make sure the batteries are always charged. **Note** The shoreline should not be connected while the generator is being started or is running. 18
Electrical Continued- Master Switch - Located near the driver on the seat riser wall. (Fig. 5) This switch connects and disconnects all of the deep cycle battery circuits. This switch should be turned off when the unit is not going to be used for the rest of the day or for a long period. Battery Brain is an electrical load manager for the deep cycle battery system to prevent the battery from discharging below 10.5 volts. Without Reset Button- When the battery brain senses low voltage (below 10.5 volts) in the deep cycle battery the following happens: The green battery status light will not be illumimated when the ignition key is in the on position because the battery brain has kicked out. All power to the items connected to the deep cycle battery are nonoperational. With Reset Button- When the battery brain senses low voltage (below 10.5 volts) in the deep cycle battery the following happens: The green battery status light will not be illumimated when the ignition key is in the on position because the battery brain has kicked out. All power to the items connected to the deep cycle battery are nonoperational. The green light on the dash has gone out indicating that the battery is below 10.5 volts and needs to be charged. At this point you need to either plug the unit in via the shoreline connection using an extension cord or start the generator (if equipped). After one of charging methods has been started, as soon as the battery gets at least 12.0 volts back into it the battery, the battery brain will automatically reset giving you full power back.. But remember if you have drawn the deep cycle battery down that far, it will need to be charge for awhile to get the battery fully charged back up again (It may take up to 8 hours to recharge) 19
Generator Operation The generator is mounted under the frame in the rear of the unit. There is an access door to the generator located in the center of the rear step/bumper. There is a remote start switch (with hour meter) located in the cab, on the dash below the steering wheel. This switch starts and stops the generator. The generator can also be started and stopped from a switch located on the generator behind the access door. When the generator is running it s supplying power to the on-board battery charger, to the 110 volt outlets, to the A\C unit and to any 110 volt lighting that may be on the vehicle. The generator is gasoline powered and is supplied by gasoline from the Polaris gas tank. The generator gasoline supply line is attached approximately three inches up from the bottom of the tank so when the generator runs out of gas there is still gas left for the vehicle to be driven from the scene. The generator will run only on the gas that occupies the top three quarters of the tank. It will run out of gas with approximately a quarter of a tank of gas left in the tank. (So if the generator will not start and you have around a quarter of a tank of gas showing on the gas gage you will need the add gas in order to run the generator). It will not run if the oil level is low or if it is close to being low. Due to the splashing effect in the oil pan if the oil is close to being low it may give it a false reading and act up. (May shut off for no reason while driving) It is recommended to use a gas additive like Sta-Bil or Sea Foam to keep the gas from getting old. This will prevent carburetor problems with the generator For further information please see the generator s owners manual 20
Power Steering This is an electric powered power steering assist unit. This unit is mounted to the steering column and the control module is mounted to the main cross member under the hood. A red light on the dash is the power steering fault light. (fig.5) This light illuminates temporarily when the vehicle is first started and then goes out. (If it stays on the power steering may have a problem) This light should NOT be lit when the vehicle is running and the power steering is working properly. This light illuminates when the vehicle is running and the power steering is not working properly. (refer to the power steering owners manual for trouble shooting) 21
Wildfire Tank 150 gal. poly tank, fully baffled, 3/8 sides, 1/2 top. 12 gal. foam tank. 3 1.5 suction hoses stored inside the poly tank w/rear access door. Mounting bases extra 1/2 thick poly bases on tank top for mounting equipment. Operating the Wildfire Pump Priming the Pump Open the valve from the hand primer to the water pump. (fig.12 Hand Primer Valve) Supply water to the pump in one of the following ways: 1. If the tank has water, open the tank to pump valve. (fig.13) OR 2. Connect the suction hose to the 1 ½ rear inlet and put the hose (with strainer attached to the end) down into the water supply. Open the 1 ½ rear inlet valve and close the tank to pump valve. (fig.13) Pump the hand primer until the pump is primed water will come out the overflow line and discharge onto the ground underneath the vehicle. (fig.13) Close the valve from the hand primer to the water pump. (fig.12 Hand Primer Valve) **NOTE** This is very important failure to close this valve before the pump is started will result in the rubber diaphragm in the hand primer to be over pressured and broken. Over pressuring will cause its seal to be broken or the rubber diaphragm to rupture. Again, this valve must be closed before the starting of the pump. The Pump Drain (fig.14) and the main tank drain (located up under the rear of the tank between the rear tires) must be pulled or opened if the unit is to be stored outside or in an unheated storage facility. The water left inside the pump bowl and tank will freeze and damage will occur. 22
Starting the Pump Open the Hose Reel Supply valve (fig.11) or the Rear Discharge Valve (fig.13) - whichever outlet you plan to discharge water from. Make sure all personnel running hose(s) have a firm grasp on the nozzle(s) to the lines that are open to flow water. Crack open (1/4 turn) the tank fill valve (fig.13) this will do the following: 1. While pumping, if the outlet valves are shut off (Hose Reel Supply Valve and Rear Discharge Valve) this will allow water to circulate and prevent the pump from pumping against a closed system, which will result in over heating the pump and ultimately result in burning up the pump. 2. Allow you to fill the tank from an outside source. While pumping with this valve cracked open, if the tank begins to overflow, this valve can be shut. However, you must remember that one of the other outlet valves must be left open at all times with the pump is running to prevent pumping against a closed system as described above. Turn the fuel tank valve on. (fig. 14) Set the throttle to idle (fig. 14) Choke the engine (if cold starting). (fig. 14) Turn the key to start Start the engine. (fig. 14) Pump is engaged immediately and continuously when the engine is running. Pumping Make sure personnel have grasp on the nozzle(s) to the lines that are open to flow water. Throttle up the engine to get the desired pressure, water volume, or stream distance. Valves controlling the water flow to the outlets (hose reel, rear discharge, or tank fill) can be open and closed as desired. ** NOTE** At least one outlet valve must be open at all times while pump is running to prevent pumping against a closed system as described above. 23
Drafting Drafting is when you are drawing water out of a source other than the on-board tank, Connect the suction hose to the 1 ½ rear inlet.(fig.18) Three 7 long 1 ½ suction hoses are stored in the tank with a rear fold down access door.(fig.11) Connect the strainer (stored in the tool box) to the end of the suction hose. Drop the suction hose down into the water supply. Open the rear inlet valve.(fig.13) Prime the pump as described in the Prime the Pump section above. Start the Pump as described in the Start the Pump section above. Pump as described in the Pumping section above. Pumping Foam Fill the foam tank with the desired foam. Start the pumping operation as described above. Open the Foam Control Valve (fig.13) from the Blizzard Wizard foam system to the pump. To begin pumping foam, slowing open the Blizzard Wizard Foam Consistency Control Knob (fig.18) located on the Blizzard Wizard foam control box by turning the control knob counter clockwise until the desire foam consistency is reached. When foam runs out turn off the Foam Control Valve (fig. 13) from the Blizzard Wizard foam system to the pump. Shutting Down the Pump Throttle engine down. Turn off ignition key. Turn fuel supply valve off. Fuel supply valve must be in the off position when not in use for 24 extended periods of time to prevent gasoline from draining into the engine oil reservoir..