Types of Fire Trucks

Fire trucks are large, highly specialized vehicles that carry firefighters and equipment to respond to incidents. They are the most common types of firefighting apparatus and are designed for specific tasks, such as wildfire suppression or vehicle accident response. Fire trucks are also equipped with the water pumps, reservoirs, hoses and other tools that allow firefighters to quickly and effectively extinguish fires. They are usually driven by firefighter-in-training (Fit) or veteran firefighters. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) defines fire truck types, standards and configurations to ensure that each model meets the needs of its community.

The term firetruck can refer to any type of truck used by a local fire department, but most commonly refers to a specialized truck with ladders and other firefighting tools. Originally, fire trucks were human-propelled, with paid firefighters standing on the sides or back of the truck to pump water, but the modern design of these vehicles includes enclosed seating areas for firefighter crews.

Ladder trucks are appropriate for situations where a fire overtakes multi-story buildings, or other structures that extend high off the ground. They have hydraulic ladder systems that are controlled by joysticks from the base of the truck or, in some cases, from the firetruck’s bucket. These ladders can be extended left and right, up or down, and can reach a variety of heights. The articulating arm on some booms can also bend in one or more directions to allow the truck to reach over obstacles and other objects.

Pumper trucks are specialized fire trucks that have a combined water tank and fire hose capacity, as well as an onboard water pump capable of delivering up to 750 gallons of water per minute. They are also equipped with basic firefighting tools and can support emergency medical operations. They are also known as rescue or pumper-tankers, and often include a hydrant or other permanent water supply to make it easier to access the water they need for an incident.

A water tender is a large, portable fire truck that transports and stores water to support firefighting efforts. These vehicles can be connected to hydrants and other permanent water sources through a system called drafting, which allows the truck to pull thousands of gallons from the source in just seconds.

Other specialty firetrucks include command vehicles, which are equipped with communication systems and mapping tools to serve as a mobile command center during an incident. Some are also armed with specialized water delivery, such as foam systems that can be used to suppress hazardous materials or flammable liquids.

Electric fire trucks are a growing trend, as they use a combination of advanced electrical and hydraulic systems to operate some of their key functions. These vehicles can help minimize the emissions, fuel usage and costs associated with traditional gas-powered fire trucks and can improve firefighters’ safety by reducing their exposure to carbon monoxide. Pierce Manufacturing can support the concept, design and configuration of an electric firetruck to meet your fire department’s needs.