Main fire trucks: types, characteristics

The first fire trucks in Russia appeared in 1904. At that time, these were fairly simple and reliable means. They had simple equipment and could carry up to 10 people. But progress does not stand still. The installed equipment was modernized, as well as the equipment itself. It has become more capacious, efficient and reliable. Let's look at the main fire trucks, their features and key differences.

Some general information

Fire fighting equipment is a means to extinguish a fire with the help of special equipment. The first machines of this type had the simplest equipment and pumps, and on some models the latter were completely absent. The water pressure in this case was provided by means of a hydrant. However, it was not always available, which caused serious problems. Currently, the main fire trucks are equipped with sophisticated equipment that allows you to control the flow rate of water and special extinguishing media, security systems and much more.

I would also like to note that there are fire trucks of general and special purpose. The former are used for the delivery of personnel to the scene of the incident, transportation of fire-extinguishing means and their supply to the source of ignition. These are the cars we can often meet on the streets of the city. Specials are much less common, and a little later we'll figure out why.

Car color

All of us have long been accustomed to the fact that fire trucks are painted in red with white stripes. This is due to the increased danger of technology, which has a large number of retractable elements, which can harm human health. Yes, and GOST provides for this kind of palette, because it catches the eye from afar. Chassis of the car is usually painted in black. In addition, there are special requirements that prohibit the placement on the body of various labels and inscriptions, other than those provided by the manufacturer.

The base for the chassis was the heavy domestic equipment, such as the Urals, KamAZ, ZIL and KrAZ. This solution is justified, because passable and reliable chassis in this matter is more important than comfortable. Well, now let's go further and consider in more detail such types of cars:

• Tank trucks (AC);
• Pump-sleeve (ANP);
• First aid (APT);
• With a high pressure pump (AED).

On fire truck tankers

Fire trucks are very common. They are used not only to deliver fire extinguishing agents to their destination, but also to transport combat crews. Fire extinguishing is carried out by water or foam. Accordingly, in the latter case, there is equipment such as a foaming agent. Also there are fire pumps, the modifications of which may differ, and the mains through which water or foam passes.

Tank trucks are the main fire trucks of general use, which almost always have the same equipment, but the characteristics of the equipment may differ significantly. For example, a tanker truck can be light, medium or heavy, depending on the capacity of the tank. Accordingly, the performance of the pump varies over a wide range. This applies to other equipment. The tank for transportation of fire extinguishing agents is most often made of high-strength carbon steel or fiberglass, which in the absence of mechanical damage serves for a long time.

Pump-and-sleeve fire truck

The key difference of this type of equipment from a tanker truck is that there is no tank with water. This type of equipment is designed to transport the crew and combat crew. Such vehicles are often used to transport fire equipment.

In addition to the fact that the pump-sleeve type of equipment delivers the crew and fire trucks to the fire site, it effectively copes with one more task. For example, if you need to extinguish a large warehouse, and nearby there is a pond, then sleeves are laid to it, and with the help of a high-pressure pump, water is pumped into a tank truck or delivered directly to the fire. Pump-and-sleeve fire engine boasts an increased cross-country ability, and also because any water sources, even remote ones, can be used to extinguish the fire. In general, this is a very effective fire truck, which can drive up to hard-to-reach places, where conventional fire equipment does not reach.

Fast response fire fighting vehicle

The first aid car, which is also a quick response, stands out among other fire equipment. This is due to the high mobility and small dimensions. This technique is most relevant in megacities, where it is able to quickly pass kilometer traffic jams.

The main and special fire fighting cars are equipped with lightweight chassis of small capacity. Accordingly, not always one such calculation is able to cope with a major fire. But often this is not required, since the main task of this technique is to provide first aid to the victims and to extinguish the fire before the arrival of a rescue in the form of a more difficult and effective technique. The equipment, depending on the purpose, can differ significantly, this also applies to the spaciousness of the cabin for the placement of combat crew. The main disadvantage of this technique is limited patency. That's why it is great for large cities and is least effective in mountainous areas or on rough terrain.

With high pressure pump

If we consider the main fire and rescue vehicles, we can not fail to mention the technique that is used to extinguish fires in high-rise buildings. The fire truck, which is equipped with a high pressure pump (AED), is able to extinguish fires, the focus of which is at a high altitude.

This technique has impressive dimensions and several compartments. One of them is a tank with a fire extinguishing agent, the other is a place for combat calculation and additional equipment. The liquid under high pressure is supplied through the mains, rapidly reaching the fire point. The main disadvantage of this technology lies in its dimensions, which significantly complicates the access to the site of ignition.

Main purpose fire trucks

Targeted application machines are used to extinguish fires in difficult situations, for example, at such facilities:

• Airports;
• Cultural buildings;
• factories;
• Various infrastructure objects.

Currently, there are 7 categories of machines for targeted use: aerodrome, powder extinguishing, foam and combined quenching, pumping station, gas and gas-water quenching machines. Let's look at each type of technology in more detail, because almost all of them differ from each other and are used depending on the situation.

About airfield vehicles

In the event of a fire on aircraft, such as helicopters and airplanes, a fire engine arrives at the call, which is often based near the aerodrome. A large number of equipment makes this technique quite heavy, but very functional. The aerodrome vehicle is excellent for evacuating people from an aircraft, mitigating planting with a layer of foam, etc.

The package usually includes circular saws for opening the aircraft if necessary, foam boxes, pump compartment and water tanks. In some cases, airfield equipment is equipped with additional fire fighting equipment. Usually there are several such cars at the airport. They must have excellent cross-country ability to operate outside the aerodrome in conditions of total impassability.

Fire trucks for the petrochemical industry

Foam, powder and gas-water type machines are actively used to combat fires of various degrees of severity in the petrochemical industry. In forestry, at gas industry facilities, combined extinguishing is most often used.

This technique is equipped with tanks in which the fire extinguishing agent, converters, and also the guns are stored. The personnel is located in the transport booth. All add-ons are installed on the base, taken from heavy equipment.

Auto-pump stations are used to combat large-scale fires. Their key feature is that the high-capacity pump on the mains feeds water to the guns. The penetration of such a technique is above average, and the pump capacity is more than 100 liters per second. This technique is equipped with two engines. One for the chassis, the second for the pump.

Let's sum up the results

Here we are and we considered the appointment of the main fire trucks. Such a technique should always be in good order. This applies to the technical part, the proper operation of the highway, pumps and other equipment. There are many types of fire fighting equipment. This is due to the fact that a mobile and light car can not cope with a large fire, and the overall and heavy can not quickly travel to the metropolis in conditions of traffic jams.

It is for this reason that the classification of the main fire trucks is so extensive. When it comes to forest fires, where ground-based technology is inefficient, use special helicopters that have tanks with a fire-extinguishing agent on board. To control the situation use light aircraft that patrol the territory and transmit data. But even modern technology does not always cope with large-scale fires, especially forestry, when whole hectares of the territory are burned in a matter of hours.