fire apparatus familiarization

Fire Apparatus Familiarization

The Company

Historically, the basic unit of a fire department is the Company, a team of firefighters with apparatus assigned to perform a specific function in a designated response area.

A company consist of a company officer, a driver/operator, and one or more firefighters.

The Company

• The basic unit (engine, truck, or rescue company.)

• Under the direction of a Captain and Lieutenants.

Engine Company

• Deliver water at fire scene.

• Stretch hoselines.

• Attack and extinguish fires.

• Carries hose, pump, water tank, tools, & appliances.

Engine Company

• The engine company is organized to provideFirefighters who deliver water at the fire scene,

• stretch hoselines,• attack and

extinguish fires in vehicles and structures.

Engine Company

• The engine company is organized to provideFirefighters who deliver water at the fire scene, stretch hoselines, attack and extinguish fires in vehicles and structures.

Engine Company

• The apparatus designated as an engine will have:

• Sufficient hose

• A water pump capable of delivering 750 to 2,000 gpm

• A water tank

• Other tools and appliances to accomplish these task.

Truck (ladder) company The primary function of a truck company is to provide:

Firefighters for forcible entry, search and rescue of

building occupants, ventilation, ladders, securing utilities,

and overhaul functions at a fire scene.

The apparatus designated as a truck company has a complement

of ground ladders and an aerial device 50 to over 100 feet

depending on local needs, with tools designed specifically

for forcible entry, ventilation, rescue, and overhaul.

Truck (Ladder) Company

• Forcible entry.

• Search and rescue.

• Ventilation.

• Ladders.

• Securing utilities.

• Overhaul.

• Carries ladders, aerial device and tools.

Rescue (Squad) Company

• Forcible entry.

• Search and rescue.

• Light tower.

– Specialized rescue:

– Vehicle extrication.

– Confined space.

– Rope rescue.

Brush Company

• Extinguishes wildland fires and protects structuresin the urban interface.

Hazardous Materials Company

• Responds to and mitigates hazardous materials incidents.

NFPA

• NFPA 1002 Standard for Fire Department Vehicle Driver / Operator Professional Qualifications.

• NFPA 1901 Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus.

Types of Apparatus • Pumping apparatus

• Triple combination pumper

• Minipumper

• Mobile water supply

• Brush apparatus

• Aircraft fire apparatus

• Fire boat

• Aerial ladder truck

• Elevating platform apparatus

• Quintuple ladder truck (Quint)

• Rescue truck

Types of Apparatus

• Pumping Apparatus:A Fire Department apparatus whose primaryresponsibility is to pump water.

Triple-Combination Pumper:Fire department pumper that carries a firepump, hose, and a water tank.

Types of Apparatus

• Minipumper:A small fire apparatus mounted on a pickup truck-sized

chassis, usually with a pump having a rated capacity less than 500 gpm.

Their primary advantage is speed and mobility, which enables them to respond to fires more rapidly than larger apparatus.

Types of Apparatus

• Mobile Water Supply Apparatus:

A.K.A. Tanker, Tender

A fire apparatus with a water tank of 1,000 gallons or larger whose primary purpose is transporting water. The truck may also carry a pump, some hose, and other equipment.

Mobile Water Supply

• Mobile water supply apparatus are used to transport water to areas beyond the water system or areas where water supplies are inadequate and must be supplemented.

• The size of the tank will depend on the department’s water requirements and the weight and capability of the apparatus.

Mobile Water Supply.

• NFPA 1901 sets the standard for an approved tanker.

• The road test and weight distribution requirements generally limit tank capasity to less then 1500 gallons on a single axle vehicle.

• Tanks over 1500 gallons require tandem rear axle or semitrailer construction.

• Nonstandard tankers can be as large as 8000 gallons on a semitrailer.

Mobile Water Supply

• Safety Considerations:Many fire departments that cannot afford to

purchase manufactured tankers convert other types of tank trucks to fire service use. Water has 10% greater weight by volume than fuel oil. A fuel oil tanker of 1000 gallons capacity filled with water would create an additional 800+ pounds that the vehicle was not designed for. A safe and efficient apparatus should meet the following criteria:

• Have proper Acceleration, braking, handling, and safety due to baffling and tank security.

Safety Criteria Cont. • Adequate but reasonable tank capacity

• Adequate loading rate(500 GPM or greater)

• Adequate unloading rate(500 GPM or greater)

• Adequate vent capacity

• Observe Manufacturer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

• Adequate Chassis, Power, Breaks

• Proper tank mounting

• Proper baffling

Types of Apparatus

Brush Apparatus:A.K.A. Booster ApparatusA fire department apparatus designed

specifically for fighting ground cover fires.

Types of Apparatus

Aircraft Fire ApparatusFire apparatus specifically designed for

aircraft crash fire fighting/rescue operations.

Types of Apparatus

Fire Boat:A boat that carries large fire pumps and is

capable of supplying master streams or supply line hoselines to land-based fire fighting apparatus.

Types of Apparatus

Aerial Ladder Truck:Fire fighting vehicle equipped with

hydraulically operated ladder or elevating platform for the purpose of placing personnel and/or water streams in elevated positions.

Types of Apparatus

Elevating Platform Apparatus:An aerial apparatus with a work platform

attached to the end of an articulating or telescoping aerial device.

Types of Apparatus

Quintuple Ladder Truck (Quint):A fire apparatus equipped with a fire

pump, water tank, ground ladders, and hose bed in addition to the aerial device.

Types of Apparatus

Rescue Truck:A.K.A. Rescue SquadA specialized unit with equipment and personnel

dedicated to performing rescue and extrication operations at the scene of an emergency.

Aerial Devices

• Aerial Ladders

• Aerial Ladder Platforms

• Telescoping Aerial Platforms

• Articulating Aerial Platforms

• Water Towers

Aerial Ladders

• Most common type in North America

• A power-operated ladder that allows firefighters to easily climb and descend.“Working Height” or fully extended length ranges from 50 to 135 feet.

Aerial Ladder Platforms

• Similar to aerial ladder apparatus with the addition of a work platform at the tip.

• Commonly range from 85 to 110 feet

Telescoping Aerial Platforms

• Similar to the Aerial Ladder Platform except without a large ladder that is used by firefighters for climbing back and forth.

• Two or more sections made of either box-beam construction or truss beam construction

Articulating Aerial Platforms

• Similar to the telescoping aerial platform apparatus. The primary difference is in the operation of the aerial device. Instead of telescoping into each other, the boom sections are connected by a hinge, and they fold like an elbow.

• Range in height from 90 to 174 feet.

Aerial Apparatus Components of an aerial ladder and elevating

platform fire apparatus:

• Aerial Device/Operating Controls

• Aerial ladder

• Aerial ladder platform

• Articulating boom

• Auxiliary hydraulic power

• Auxiliary pump (booster pump)

Aerial Apparatus Cont. • Back up alarm

• Base rail

• Base section

• Boom

• Boom support

• Cable

• Chassis

• Elevating platform

• Fire pump

Aerial Apparatus Cont. • Fly section

• Intake relief valve

• Knuckle

• Ladder section

• Load limit indicator

• Platform

• Preconnected line

• Stabilizer

• Stabilizer shoe

• Top rail

• Turntable alignment indicator

Definitions

• Aerial Device - General term used to describe the hydraulically operated ladder or elevating platform attached to a specially designed fire apparatus.

• Aerial ladder - Power-operated (usually hydraulically) ladder mounted on a special truck chassis.

• Aerial ladder platform - Power-operated (usually hydraulically) ladder with a passenger-carrying device attached to the end of the ladder.

Definitions

• Articulating Boom - Arm portion of the articulating aerial platform.

• Auxiliary Hydraulic Power - A back up hydraulic system on an aerial device used in the event that the main hydraulic pump fails.

• Back up alarm - An alarm on the back of an apparatus that is used to alert people that the apparatus is in reverse.

Definitions

• Base Section - Bottom section of an extension ladder. Also called Base Section.

• Boom - Telescoping or articulating arm portions of an elevating platform aerial device.

• Boom Support - Supports that help further strengthen the Boom of an elevating platform aerial device.

• Cable - Usually galvanized, made from plow steel and resistant to abrasion. Designed for extension and retraction of the fly sections of an aerial ladder.

Definitions

• Chassis - Frame upon which the body of the fire apparatus rest.

• Elevating Platform - Work platform attached to the end of an articulating or telescoping aerial device.

• Fire Pump - Water pump on a piece of fire apparatus

• Fly Section - The extendable section of the aerial ladder.

• Intake relief valve - A safety device used to control excess pressures on the intake side of the pump.

Definitions

• Load limit indicator - an electrical monitoring system that protects the electrical system from overloads.

• Platform - A work area that is attached to the end of an aerial ladder.

• Preconnected Line - Attack hose connected to a discharge when the hose is loaded.

• Stabilizer - Devices that transfer the center of gravity of the apparatus and prevent it from tipping as the aerial device is extended away from the center line of the chassis.

Definitions

• Stabilizer Shoe - Flat metal plate attached to the bottom of the aerial apparatus stabilizer to provide firm footing on the stabilizing surface.

• Turntable Alignment Indicator - An indicator on the apparatus that indicates when the ladder is in line with the apparatus bed.

Pump Classifications

• Positive Displacement Pumps

• Centrifugal Pumps


Positive Displacement Pumps

• Simple Piston Pump

• Simple Rotary Gear Pump

• Simple Rotary Vane Pump


Positive Displacement Pump

Simple Piston Pump



Simple Rotary Gear Pump



Simple Rotary Vane Pump


• Simple Centrifugal Pumps

• Multistage Centrifugal Pumps


Simple Centrifugal Pump


Parts of a Simple Centrifugal Pump


• Multistage Centrifugal Pumps

1. Volume or Parallel Stage

2. Pressure or Series Stage


Multistage Centrifugal Pumps

Volume or Parallel Stage


Multistage Centrifugal Pumps

Pressure or Series Stage


One thing to always remember when operating pumps, nozzles, hydrants, or any valve on the fire truck is to always open and close them slowly to prevent

WATER HAMMER.

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fire apparatus familiarization

Documents

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rescue company

engine company

department apparatus

larger apparatus

brush company

apparatus familiarization

company officer