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
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