US firetrucks and use

[noscollections]

Hello,

I'm looking for informations about US firetrucks use.

I know le French firetrucks and their use.

I woulf like to compare french firetrucks and american.

My first question is what is the list of the trucks.
I have already make some search but without help of specialists this is not easy.

Aerial
pumper (engine ?)
rescue
Pumper
Foam tender
USAR (toolbox ?)
HAZMAT (decontamination)
... ?

Maybe more vehicle ? In france we have other vehicles. I not found info about equivalent vehicle.
Exemple : simple vehicle (for the chief or personal deplacement)
we also have a "all use vehicle", this is a van and it is use for mission like flood in a house, destroy bee swarm, ...

So my first question is what is the list of fire truck ?
My second is how fire houses are equip by firetrucks.
ex : Little firehouse (2 trucks , 1tanker and 1 rescue)

And the last is what type of missions each firetruck can do ?

Is a specialist can help me ?

Best regards

Christophe

[CaptOldTimer]

No comparison, United States made apparatus is the BEST!

[CGITCH]

No comparison, United States made apparatus is the BEST!

U.S. made anything is the best.

[FIREMECH1]

Hello,

I'm looking for informations about US firetrucks use.

I know le French firetrucks and their use.

I woulf like to compare french firetrucks and american.

My first question is what is the list of the trucks.
I have already make some search but without help of specialists this is not easy.

Aerial
pumper (engine ?)
rescue
Pumper
Foam tender
USAR (toolbox ?)
HAZMAT (decontamination)
... ?

Maybe more vehicle ? In france we have other vehicles. I not found info about equivalent vehicle.
Exemple : simple vehicle (for the chief or personal deplacement)
we also have a "all use vehicle", this is a van and it is use for mission like flood in a house, destroy bee swarm, ...

So my first question is what is the list of fire truck ?
My second is how fire houses are equip by firetrucks.
ex : Little firehouse (2 trucks , 1tanker and 1 rescue)

And the last is what type of missions each firetruck can do ?

Is a specialist can help me ?

Best regards

Christophe

Disregard the other posts. I'll help, to the best of my ability. However, there are differences in every state, city, and town, and their operations.

So my first question is what is the list of fire truck ?

Aerial....
pumper (engine ?) same thing.
rescue
Foam tender
USAR (toolbox ?)
HAZMAT (decontamination)
Heavy Rescue
Light Rescue
Cascade... Being able to fill SCBA bottles on scene for air.
Dry Chem... Usually found for support of air ports or chemical companies.
Tanker.... Usually carries water only.
Tender.... Carries water, and has a pump.
Quint

My second is how fire houses are equip by firetrucks.

There is no set rule on what fire trucks are stationed at a fire house. It comes down to what that area needs, and it's surrounding areas of its a first due response. Some stations will have an engine/pumper, some will have an engine/pumper, aerial, Med unit, HazMat, etc. Depends on the need for that area.

And the last is what type of missions each firetruck can do ?

That's a tall order to ask. And it depends on the make up of the fire department, and how it is equipped, and what its role is. I'll give the very basics of what each rig can do. But this is not complete in any fashion. Some do more, some do less. And I am sure I'll be corrected on all of them.

Engine/Pumper..... Throw the wet stuff on the hot red stuff.

Aerial/Ladder.... Rescue, roof ventilation, building ventilation, lighting the fire ground, extrication, throw the wet stuff on the hot red stuff, and so on.

Rescue... Extrication, RIT, collapse, high rescue, etc.

HazMat... Any spill or leak that is hazardous. Some have a decon shower and other tools. They also have every gas/airborne meter possible. Including Geiger counters. Chem suits are also on board.

There's more that I left out. But to get what you need, others (hopefully) will be here to help out, and add what I left out, or needs to be corrected.

FM1

[chiefengineer11]

Disregard the other posts. I'll help, to the best of my ability. However, there are differences in every state, city, and town, and their operations.

There is no set rule on what fire trucks are stationed at a fire house. It comes down to what that area needs, and it's surrounding areas of its a first due response. Some stations will have an engine/pumper, some will have an engine/pumper, aerial, Med unit, HazMat, etc. Depends on the need for that area.

That's a tall order to ask. And it depends on the make up of the fire department, and how it is equipped, and what its role is. I'll give the very basics of what each rig can do. But this is not complete in any fashion. Some do more, some do less. And I am sure I'll be corrected on all of them.

FM1

To expand just a bit on FM1's statements, in the U.S., fire protection is a local matter. Each community is responsible for itself, so each one determines what its needs are and how best to address them. Canada does it in a similar manner. So there is no "standard" engine, or ladder truck or any other apparatus (appliance in the U.K. and other places). Each municipality decides how to handle its own fire protection. Each one purchases apparatus designed around how they perceive their needs.

[noscollections]

Hello,

Thank you for your posts.
I will probably ask some stupid questions but this is not easy.

I read you post and I need to analysis them, there are many insterresting informations.

You have told of the rescue vehicle and your definition is different of that I think before.

I read the EMS page from wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_medical_services
The vehicle that I think is this one : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BFDandUVES.JPG

Normaly this is an ALS. The big question is this is a fire vehicle or not (EMS) ?
EMS not look like to be a firefighter service. You will propably told me the depend of the city.
If I must choose a city, I wooklike to know if the ALS is in the FD (Fire Department) for the city of :
Los Angeles ( Yes or No)
Las Vegas ( Yes or No)
New York ( Yes or No)

This vehicle go only for save a victim. (injured at home or on the street, gun victim, ill)

This is not the same vehicle that you have told

Rescue... Extrication, RIT, collapse, high rescue, etc.

[FWDbuff]

Hello,

Thank you for your posts.
I will probably ask some stupid questions but this is not easy.

I read you post and I need to analysis them, there are many insterresting informations.

You have told of the rescue vehicle and your definition is different of that I think before.

I read the EMS page from wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_medical_services
The vehicle that I think is this one : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BFDandUVES.JPG

Normaly this is an ALS. The big question is this is a fire vehicle or not (EMS) ?
EMS not look like to be a firefighter service. You will propably told me the depend of the city.
If I must choose a city, I wooklike to know if the ALS is in the FD (Fire Department) for the city of :
Los Angeles ( Yes or No) Fire Department based EMS
Las Vegas ( Yes or No) Private EMS Provider
New York ( Yes or No) Fire Department based EMS, however the EMS Division is separate from the Suppression Forces.

This vehicle go only for save a victim. (injured at home or on the street, gun victim, ill)

This is not the same vehicle that you have told

To make things even more confusing for you, separate areas of the United States have different names for their vehicles. For example, primarily in the southern and western US, a "RESCUE" is an ambulance capable of transporting patients to the hospital.

In the Northern States, where the fire service is older, a "RESCUE" is a Heavy Rescue Unit, a big toolbox on wheels (extrication, collapse, technical rescue, confined space, high angle, etc.) In major cities, they are usually more heavily manned than normal Engine or Ladder Companies, and with highly aggressive, highly trained firefighters (The best of the best.)

In the North, ambulances are usually called "Medic" unit, Ambulance, or Punishment.

Another "name game" is TANKER versus TENDER. In the northern states, a TANKER is a truck that carries a large amount of water. In the west, a TANKER is an airplane that drops water onto forest fires.

A TENDER in the west is a truck that carries water. In the East, a TENDER is something made from chicken, that is deep fried, that you eat with honey mustard, barbeq, sweet & sour sauce or ketchup.

There is absolutely NO nationwide standards, and very little if any statewide standards throughout the USA. Does this get us in trouble? Sometimes. But it works for us. Confused yet????

[noscollections]

Hello,

This is increasingly clear ! thanks

It's harder than I thought.

I will focus on Los Angeles for now.

If I have understand, this is a south city so --> a rescue is the ALS and they are in the firehouse with other firetrucks.
For LAFD a tanker is a plane for drop water.

Missions that can do these 2 vehicles are ok in my mind.

-----
PUMPER or Engine
(what the best name for LA ?)

Engine/Pumper..... Throw the wet stuff on the hot red stuff.

I'm not understand that you mean ! ? ! ?

This truck can extinguish fire of a house or a car.
It can also extract people from car on a accident, it can cut car parts.

I hope all of this post is correct !!!

PS : a big thanks for your help, I galley since several months and you give more information in a day than all the time. I hope my english is also understandable

[FWDbuff]

Hello,

This is increasingly clear ! thanks

It's harder than I thought.

I will focus on Los Angeles for now.

If I have understand, this is a south city so --> a rescue is the ALS and they are in the firehouse with other firetrucks.
For LAFD a tanker is a plane for drop water.

Missions that can do these 2 vehicles are ok in my mind.

-----
PUMPER or Engine
(what the best name for LA ?) Los Angeles utilizes "ENGINE COMPANY."



I'm not understand that you mean ! ? ! ?

This truck can extinguish fire of a house or a car.
It can also extract people from car on a accident, it can cut car parts. An ENGINE's primary mission is to deliver water onto a fire. Some can and do have extrication capability, but it is usually limited.

I hope all of this post is correct !!!

PS : a big thanks for your help, I galley since several months and you give more information in a day than all the time. I hope my english is also understandable

You are doing fine. You speak better english than many citizens here.

Let's add some more confusion to your confusion:

ENGINE/PUMPER: are the same thing. Has a pump, with a tank (usually 500 to 1000 gallons of water) and hose, and their primary mission is to deliver water onto the fire.

TRUCK COMPANY/LADDER/AERIAL: are all the same thing. Has an aerial device whether it be a straight "stick" ladder, and aerial tower/tower ladder/ladder tower that has a bucket/basket that can hold 2-4 firefighters on the end, or an articulating boom of some sort (also called a "snorkel) a bunch of hand tools, portable ground ladders. Again, dependant on where you are in the USA will depend on how the Company is used, but Aerials/Trucks/Ladder Companies for the most part throughout the USA are used for search & rescue of trapped occupants, forcible entry, ventilation, overhaul, securing utilities, ladder the building for access and egress.

PUMPER/TANKER: An ENGINE with a larger tank (1000 to 3500 gallons) of water, some hose (although the hose capacity is decreased due to the larger tank) and their job again is to deliver water onto the fire. Usually found in more rural areas where there are no fire hydrants (water supply.)

TANKER: is usually a stand-alone water truck, primary mission is to deliver water to the ENGINE company. Tankers usually have 2500 to 5000 gallons of water. The bigger 5000 gallon ones can even be tractor-trailer type.

[FIREMECH1]

LOL...

Engine/Pumper..... Throw the wet stuff on the hot red stuff.

Engine/Pumper.... Throw water (wet stuff) on the fire (hot red stuff). Sorry for the confusion.

The Rescue and aerials have the tools for vehicle extrication. Cutting cars apart.

Our ALS vehicles (ambulances) are called "Med Units".

FM1

PS: Your English is fine.

[...]

Hi, I hope to be some help. So if your interested in Los Angeles Fire Department "LAFD" (don't confuse with the Los Angeles County Fire Department) apparatus the "Engine" responds to fires, medical calls (but does not transport patients) and pretty much all other calls. The ladder truck or "Truck" responds mostly to fires and rescues (vehicle and technical) and carries the hydraulic tools. The "Rescue Ambulances" (or "Ambulance", "Medic" or "Rescue" in some parts of the country) respond to calls and transport ill or injured patients. The "USAR" (or "Heavy Rescue" in most of the country) is like a giant tool box containing equipment for all types of rescues. On the west coast a "Tender" is a vehicle carrying a large amount of water and sometimes a small pump. A similar vehicle on the east coast would be called a "Tanker". On the west coast a "Tanker" is a firefighting aircraft. A "Brush Patrol" (or "Brush" on the east coast) is a pick-up truck type vehicle that carries a small pump and tank that extinguishes brush fires. Your "all use vehicle" sounds similar to a "Utility Truck" (which is mostly operated by volunteer departments) that carries extra personal and hauls equipment around. Your "simple vehicle" in this country is generally referred to a "Command Car" or the given title of the officer responding ("Battalion 14", "Division Chief 2").

Here are some pictures of different vehicles in the LAFD:

http://www.code2high.com/lafd_apparatus.htm

Hope to be some help! If you have anymore questions just ask!

[noscollections]

So if your interested in Los Angeles Fire Department "LAFD" (don't confuse with the Los Angeles County Fire Department)

Bingo, I confuse
What's the differences ?

The rest is clear for now

thanks

[rm1524]

Bingo, I confuse
What's the differences ?

The rest is clear for now

thanks

LAFD is the city fire department which is inside Los Angeles county. LAFD covers/protects the city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County FD covers/protects the rest of the county that is not inside the city limits of Los Angeles.

[noscollections]

Hello,

All is good for the vehicles and the LA system.

Now I would like to have informations about Missions made by Firefighters.

In France, firefighters do missions but I don't think firefighters do the same.
I will give you some exemples, for earch I would like to know if LAFD do the type of missions and if "yes", which vehicles can do it.

- wast nest destruction
- flood garage or cellar (put out water after big rain )
- cat block in a tree
- children block in a appartment ( door blocked, open it by destroy ou go by the windows (break to open the door)
- gas leak (in a house or in a street)
- forest fire
- dangerous animal escape (like crocodile in a pool )
- cow stuck in a field
- roof damage by a storm , put a tarp
- elevator blocked, unlock and deliver people
- security inspection in public building
- school prevention
- go to the supermarket to buy someting to eat for the firefighters lunch !!!!

I hope some of them will not make you laugh

Thanks

PS : if some of you want some informations about french system, I can help your curiosity

[redbaron]

Remind those first two whining Mousekateers about the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport @267.81mph

Don't even let me get started on the Paris to Dakar Run, where the Big Trucks go.

Have you ever used one of these aerials? Please let FWDBuff know how many ground ladders you carry on your aerials!!!

T.C., can I get a little help here???????

[noscollections]

I answer redbaron by Private Message to not perturb the post.

A question :
When a firetruck leave the firehouse : what do you say ? is their a special word ?

An other question of language :
You say : You "dispatch" a Engine to the point of care.
Is dispatch the good word ?

In france we say : "Décaler" translate by : Shift

[FWDbuff]

Have you ever used one of these aerials? Please let FWDBuff know how many ground ladders you carry on your aerials!!!

noscollections, how do you say in French "Where are the ground ladders on that glorified sauerkraut cart?"

[BoxAlarm187]

When a firetruck leave the firehouse : what do you say ? is their a special word ?

Many places will say "Enroute" or "Responding," but there are also departments that are still using 10-codes, so they'd say something like "10-17" or "10-76"...or whatever the appropriate code was for their locality.

Is it Columbus, OH that marks enroute "Wheels Rolling"?

As for who you're calling on the radio, that also depends on the locality. Some of them I've heard are Radio, Dispatch, Central, Fire Board, 911, Dispatcher, or the name of the locality itself.

As you can see, the US operates much more locally than as a national fire service like you might see in the EU.

[noscollections]

noscollections, how do you say in French "Where are the ground ladders on that glorified sauerkraut cart?"

I have some difficulties to translate the sentense.

some word are starng in it : sauerkraut

ladder : ok but "ground ladder" !

http://www.netpompiers.fr/index.php?...te&id_vh=33143

if you ask about the "basket" at the top of the ladder, this is "nacelle"

[chiefengineer11]

I have some difficulties to translate the sentense.

some word are starng in it : sauerkraut

ladder : ok but "ground ladder" !

http://www.netpompiers.fr/index.php?...te&id_vh=33143

if you ask about the "basket" at the top of the ladder, this is "nacelle"

We refer to ladders that are carried and raised by hand as "ground ladders." They range in length from 10 feet to 50 feet (3 to 15 metres). Common lengths are 14 feet (4.25 metres), 24 feet (7.3 metres), 28 feet (8.5 metres) and 35 feet (10.7 metres). Ladders longer than 20 feet usually are in two or three sections, called flies.

Engines usually carry a complement of ground ladders totalling 11 or 12 meters, although they may carry more. The engines in my department carry approximately 30 metres of ground ladders.

Aerial ladder trucks usually carry more ground ladders, as much as 65 metres, in addition to the aerial device.

FWDbuff dislikes European aerial ladder trucks (Metz, especially) because they usually do not carry many ground ladders. His reference to sauerkraut is to the distinctly German dish made from cabbage.