| The Fire Service uses many different types of apparatus to respond to Companies, The City of St. Lego Fire & Rescue Service employs a wide variety of these trucks to serve the population. Here you will find the different typed of apparatus used by the department, and a brief explanation of each. |
| Engine Companies: Engine Companies are the department. These are what most people think of when they think of fire apparatus. The basic job of the Engine is to put water on the fire. Most Engine Companies carry at least 750 gals. of water, a large pump to pump the water, a large assortment of hose, and usually some type of master stream, such as a deck gun, to put a large volume of water on a fire. Engine Companies also carry rescue equipment, and medical equipment to help at medical emergencies. |
| Squad Companies: Depending on where you live, a Squad Company can mean different things. In some communities, a Squad Company is a medical unit, carrying life saving medical supplies. In others a Squad can be a brush unit, or a small utility truck. In the St. Lego Fire Department, Squad Companies are specialized Engine Companies. The Department utilizes six Squads, which carry out the basic duties of the Engine Company, but these units carry an extra assortment of Rescue Equipment, most notably the Jaws of Life, and Hurst Cutting Tools, used for extracting occupants entrapped in automobiles. |
| Brush Companies: Brush Companies are another type of Engine, specifically used to fight brush, and forest fires. Some are just simple pick-up trucks with a pump mounted on the back, others are custom made rigs, usually 4-wheel drive, carrying a large assortment of equipment, such as rakes, shovels, and axes, used to fight forest fires. Brush Trucks usually don't carry a large supply of water, so they rely on drafting from a lake, or river, or a Tanker to supply them with water. |
| Tankers: Tankers are another specialized type of Engine. Tankers are used to carry a large amount of water, usually between 2,500-5,000 gals, for fires in areas where the water supply may not be adequate enough. There are two types of Tankers, elliptical, which look like a oil delivery truck, and dry-side, which look like a large Engine Company. The St. Lego Fire Department utilizes a dry-side tanker, that carries 2,500 gals of water. |
| Ladder Companies: Ladder Companies, or "Trucks", are the other type of company most people are familiar with. There are several different types of Trucks in service, and we will explore those types as we go on. The main purpose of a Ladder Company, is to ventilate buildings, and perform search and rescue operations. A standard Truck Company consists of a large truck, with a large ladder, usually over 100', or other type of aerial device mounted on it. The most popular type are rear mounts, which has the ladder mounted on the rear, usually extending over the cab. |
| Tractor Drawn: another type of Truck. These trucks consist of two pieces, a tractor, and a trailer, and are so long it takes two firefighters to drive. The trailer contains the serial device, and also has a seat in the rear for another firefighter to steer the back of the truck. These trucks are very maneuverable, and are especially useful in areas with tight streets. |
| Tower Companies are another specialized type of ladder. Towers are large Trucks, with a heavy duty aerial devise, with a bucket mounted on the end, which gives firefighters a more stable platform to work from. Usually there is a large master stream located on the bucket for getting water above the fire. Towers can be either rear mount, or mid mounts. |
| Mid Mounts are another type of Truck, in which the aerial is mounted behind the cab, and usually hangs over the rear of the truck, sometimes quite away. Mid Mounts can either be standard Ladder Companies, or Tower Units. |
| Quints: Quints are a relatively new, and sometimes controversial concept in firefighting. Quints combine the basic capabilities of an Engine Company, with those of a Truck Company. To qualify as a Quint, the apparatus must carry five components for fighting fires, water, pump, hose, a large assortment of ground ladders, and a large aerial device. Quints are a very useful tool in the firefighting industry, if used properly. Unfortunately most city governments do not understand the concept of a Quint, and do not properly staff them to carry out all the functions expected of them. |
| Rescue Companies: Rescue Companies are specialized apparatus, which depending on where you live, can mean something different. Some Rescue Companies are basic Ambulances, others are large trucks that carry an extrication equipment, and others are specialized trucks, used for a specific task, as needed. The St. Lego Fire Department utilizes two types of Rescues, The Heavy Rescue, which carries a large selection of Rescue Tools, and Tactical Rescues, which are specialized to perform a specific task. |
| utilizes three different types of Tactical Rescues. Each of these units is equipped to deal with certain types of emergencies. The three types of Tactical Rescues are a Confined Space/High Angle Rescue, for rescuing people trapped in tight spaces, or on high angles, a Dive Rescue, for rescues involving drowning, or on water, and a Haz-Mat Rescue, for Hazardous Material incidents. |
| Lighting Plant: Lighting Plants are a specialized Company used to supply lights to the fireground. Most Lighting Plants carry several high intensity light towers, as well as many portable lights, and extension cords, as well as several generators. These units are especially useful at night fires, and confined space rescues. |
| Air Supply: Air Supply Units are a special truck designed to supply air to crews working at fire scenes. Most air supply units carry many extra air bottles, and a cascade system to re-fill bottles on the fireground |