3 ms·
Not every fire apparatus has a pump. Squad units, rescue units, ladder units probably won't. What we call these things in my (rural California) district: * En
by stickfigure 4y ago
Not every fire apparatus has a pump. Squad units, rescue units, ladder units probably won't.
What we call these things in my (rural California) district:
* Engine - has pump, 500-800 gal tank.
* "Brush" or Wildland unit - 4wd, 300 gals, smaller pump
* Water Tender - ~2000 gals, has a pump but no hoses other than a supply hose
* Squad unit - extraction tools (eg "jaws of life"), saws, lift bags, etc. Usually no water, though we have one squad with a small pump-less tank operated by air pressure.
* Rescue unit - basically a work truck with equipment for water rescue and technical rescue (inflatable boat, ropes, harnesses, pulleys, etc).
- OJFord 4y agoInteresting, I think it's perhaps because we don't have so much variability then (or at least not much layman-visible variability), though I have on occasion seen some less familiar ones they're so rare that I wouldn't have a different name for them. Even 'squad units' (cars right?) I would just awkwardly say 'fire.. er, car' I imagine, even they're not that common to be honest. Just for higher-ups and 'chemical response' I think.
- stickfigure 4y agoSquad units are trucks (like a 550 chassis) with lots of compartment space rather than tank/pump. There's a lot of equipment, far more than would fit in a car. "Fire cars" (SUVs really) are for moving chiefs, not equipment. There is a lot of variability in US fire departments. The kit for a city department is very different from the kid for a rural district like mine.