What Are The Definitions For Different Types Of Brush Trucks?

[Ohiovolffemtp]

I'm curious - I've seen folks talk about type 1 & type 6 brush trucks or brush firefighting groups. What are the definitions for these? Where I run, all a brush truck is is a jeep or 4x4 pickup with a small water tank & small gas powered pump. These are often home-made. It sounds like out west there's a whole structure to this. I'd like to know more. Can anyone describe this or point me to some web sites? Thanks.

[Rayr49]

The terms used are from the NWCG (National Wildfire Co-ordinating Group) The group consists of Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, and National Association of State Foresters among others. It provides standards for training, equipment, ICS organization and other wild land related functions.

Your local forester should be able to get you a copy of the Fireline Handbook. Cost is less than $5.00.

Specifically the engine types are based on pump and tank size, crew, hose carried, and other equipment carried. Type I & 2 are normally structure engines.

Type 1 1000 GPM, 400 Gal tank, 1200' 2.5" hose or larger, 400' 1.5" hose or larger (attack line), 200' 1" hose or larger, ladder 20' or longer, 500GPM master stream, and 4 crew members.

Type 2 500GPM, 400 Gal Tank, hose 1000', 5400', 300' respectively, ladder 20' or longer, no master stream and 3 crew members.

Type 3 120GPM, 500 gal tank, 1000' 1.5" or larger, 800' 1 " or larger, 3 crew members.

Type 4 70 GPM, 750 Gal tank, 300' 1.5" & 300" 1" or larger, 3 crew members.

Type 5 & 6 50 GPM, 500 Gal and 200 Gal tanks, same hose as type 4, 3 and 2 crew members respectively.

Type 7 20 GPM, 125 Gal tank, 200 and 200' on 1.5 and 1" hose, 2 crew members.

Tankers have wings and drop retardant, Tenders are water haulers on the ground. They have four types as follows.

Type 1 300 GPM, 5000 Gal tank.

Type 2 200 GPM, 2500 Gal tank.

Type 3 200 GPM, 1000 Gal tank.

Type 4 no pump, 1000 Gal tank.

Local agencies may modify these to meet local requirements but they normally stick close to the plublished criteria.

[ff emt-p bleve]

Engine Minimum Standards Types looks at the following

Pumps (GPM)
Tank size
Hose carried 2 1/2 1 1/2 and 1 inch
Ladders
Heavy stream
Personnal

Type 1 engine 1000 GPM 400 GALLONS 1200' OF 21/2
400' 1 1/2 200' OF 1 INCH HOSE,20'LADDER AND 4 PERSONNAL

Type 2 500 gpm 400 gallons 1000' ,500',300' hoses 21/2 1 1/2 and 1 inch.
20' ladder 3 personnal

Type 3 120 gpm 500 gallon tank 1000' 1 1/2 hose 800' 1 inch line no ladders 3 FF .

Type 4 70 gpm pump 750 gallon water 1 1/2 300' 300' 1 inch 3 FF

TYPE 5 50 GPM 500 TANK 300' 1 1/2 300' 1 INCH HOSE
3 FF

TYPE 6 50 GPM TANK 200 GALLON 300 1 1/2 300 INCH LINE 2 FIREFIGHTERS.

Type 7 20 gpm 125 gallon tank 200'1 1/2 and 200' inch line 2 FF. Fireline handbook jan.1998.National Wildland Coordinating Group.

[Ohiovolffemtp]

Thanks much.

[mtnfireguy]

http://www.nwcg.gov/teams/fewt/typ-std.pdf

[cbplante3]

About the only thing to add to all the above is that the classification adds an "x" to engine types if they are four wheel drive. (Or All wheel drive)
So a type 6x engine would be 4WD.

[HELITAK03]

Do tracked engines require an "X" designation?

[cbplante3]

Good question, Helitak....knowing how the classifications work, if I were a RESL on an incident, I'd probably classify a tracked vehicle with an "x" if it fit all the other requirements of the particular equipment in that class
Hope you all had a happy holiday.