Fire Trucks, Fire Apparatus

There are 6 types of fire trucks that are used by all fire departments. We will discuss all 6 types here in this article.

The pumper fire truck is the one that is used most often in the event of a fire. It is the one also used during Fire Prevention Week at most schools. The pumper truck is called to an accident scene because the gasoline in the car's tank may leak and catch on fire. A pump on the truck can increase the pressure of the water in the hose so the water will reach farther. A pumper truck can pump 1,250 gallons of water every minute! The truck itself is 30 feet long.

The tanker fire truck is also about 30 feet long and carries 1,000 gallons of water. It is always kept filled with water. It is always kept filled with water. When there is a big fire, the tanker truck unloads its water in a small pool of water that the firefighters set up. The pumper truck can pump the water from this pool so the tanker truck can leave to get more water. Sometimes there are no fire hydrants around, like out in the country; so the tanker trucks will get the much needed water from ponds or even swimming pools.

The ladder truck has a very long ladder attached to it, hence the name. The ladder is about 100 feet long. At the end of the ladder is a bucket for firefighters and arson dogs to get to the top of a building. Ladder trucks are much longer than pumper or tanker trucks. A ladder truck can be 40 to 50 feet long.

Fire trucks are important equipment that allows firefighters get to the scene of a fire and put it out. It is a personal carrier, tool box and water supplier. All three of these components make it necessary for a fire to be put out.