What Are Fire Trucks?

A fire truck is a specialized vehicle that carries firefighters and the equipment needed to fight fires. Most are based on commercial vehicles and equipped with emergency lights and sirens, along with two-way radios for communication between the firefighting team and dispatch.

Many fire trucks also incorporate foam systems such as Class A or Class B, which are designed to saturate materials and prevent them from re-igniting. This is particularly important for trucks that work on incidents involving fuel sources, such as automobiles or buildings.

Each fire truck is unique, depending on the requirements of the local fire department. However, some common features include a large tank capacity for water and an array of tools and equipment to protect firefighters.

In addition to the fire suppression system, a typical fire truck includes compartments for gear like SCBA air tanks, chainsaws, hoses, forcible entry tools, and more. The truck may also have a fire pump with varying water capacities, depending on the needs of the department. Lastly, a fire truck may be equipped with a boom that extends to spray water or foam from various angles.

The cab of a fire truck is divided into sections, with the front holding the captain and driver and the back seating the rest of the crew. Special seats that hold the SCBA enable crew members to quickly donning their air packs and begin firefighting activities at a moment’s notice. The vehicle also has multiple built-in headsets so the entire crew can communicate effectively while on duty.

Typically, a fire engine is based on a chassis from the REV Group, which includes manufacturers such as Pierce and Oshkosh. REV holds roughly a third of the $3B fire truck market and is considered a leader in the industry. Other manufacturers like Rosenbauer International and E-One also produce fire engines.

There are four different types of fire trucks, each designed to serve a specific purpose. A Type 1 fire truck is the standard firefighting vehicle, designed to carry three or more firefighters and essential firefighting equipment including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), ladders, nozzles, forcible entry tools and more. It is also typically equipped with a water pump capable of expelling a minimum of 150 gallons of water per minute at a pressure of 250 pounds per square inch (psi).

Type 2 fire trucks are smaller versions of the standard fire engine, designed to arrive on the scene first and take on basic firefighting tasks until more support arrives. They can have a water tank of up to 500 gallons and a power-take-off (PTO) pump that allows the vehicle to continue moving while it pumps water.

Finally, Type 3 and 4 fire trucks are larger, more heavily equipped vehicles that can handle wildfires and other large disasters. They have a high GVWR rating and can carry more equipment than their smaller counterparts. Some of these vehicles are also equipped with a command center, which is used to manage disaster response operations.