A wildland fire engine or brush truck is a fire engine specifically designed to assist in fighting wildfires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment. There are multiple types of wildfire apparatus which are used in different scenarios. According to the U.S. National Fire Protection Association, if the apparatus will be used primarily for outdoor and wildland responses, then it is to be considered a wildland fire apparatus and must conform to NFPA 1906.[1]
Depending on where the engine is stationed, it may carry as much as twice the national standard in fire hose. In areas where there is rugged terrain that keeps engines from driving directly to the fire, large hose lays are installed to transport water to the fire area. In areas with moderate terrain less hose is used as it is easier to access the fire.[2] Often the hose-free technique of pump-and-roll is used where the vehicle drives with the pump engaged while a firefighter uses a hose to spray water on the fire. This technique allows a team of two to flank the perimeter of a fire.[3]
Wildland engines are traditionally smaller than standard fire engines and are primarily used for wildfires. They also respond to emergencies in the back country where traditional engines cannot respond. Most wildland engines feature four-wheel drive capability and can thus climb hills and make it through rough terrain. One of the features that makes these engines ideal for vegetation fires is that they can pump water while driving, whereas most, but not all traditional engines must be put into park to flow water, it depends on the specifications to which the Fire Department wants the vehicle to be built. This pump-and-roll feature allows the engines to make "running attacks" on vegetation fires, a tactic that can help minimize the rate of spread by having a firefighter walk the edge of a fire with a hose line and the engine trailing close behind.[4]
In the fall of 2007, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group agreed on a set of standards for fire engines used for wildland firefighting in the United States. As structure engines are sometimes used on wildland fires, though primarily for structure protection, they are also included in the NWCG engine typing.[5] Per the standards there are 7 types of fire engines.
| Engine Type | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | Wildland | |||||||
| Requirements | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| Minimum tank capacity | 300USgal | 300USgal | 500USgal | 750USgal | 400USgal | 150USgal | 50USgal | |
| Minimum flow rate USGPM (L/S IMPGPM) | 1000USgal/min | 500USgal/min | 150USgal/min | 50USgal/min | 50USgal/min | 50USgal/min | 10USgal/min | |
| Minimum pressure | 150psi | 150psi | 250psi | 100psi | 100psi | 100psi | 100psi | |
| Hose types | ||||||||
| 2-" | 1200feet | 1000feet | ||||||
| 1-" | 500feet | 500feet | 1000feet | 300feet | 300feet | 300feet | ||
| 1" | 500feet | 300feet | 300feet | 300feet | 200feet | |||
| Pump and Roll | ||||||||
The Type 3 Engines traditionally have four-wheel drive to make driving over rough terrain easier; they can also be produced with standard rear wheel drive.[6] Additionally the cab can either be two- or four-door holding up to five people, but no fewer than three.[7] Almost all Type 3s have four doors as a crew size of five is optimum. Type 3s are required to have a minimum of 500USgal of water, and be able to pump 150USgal/min at a pressure of 250psi.[5] They have a typical GVWR of 26000lbs.[8] The Type 3 is the most popular engine in California due to the difficult road access to wildland fires; Type 3 engines typically have a shorter wheelbase allowing tighter turns on forest roads.
The Type 4 engine trades a smaller pump and less hose for a 50% larger tank. It is required to carry a minimum of 750USgal of water, but only pump 50USgal/min at a pressure of 100psi.[5] The typical GVWR is at least 26000lbs.[8]
Type 5s are normally used as an initial attack engine atop a medium duty chassis. The GVWR of the chassis is around 20000lbs.[8]
Type 6 Engines are built on a pickup truck frame with a medium duty chassis giving a GVWR of 9000lbs16000lbs.[8] They are required to carry a minimum of 150USgal of water, but only pump 50USgal/min at a pressure of 100psi.[5] In California these engines are staffed with one firefighter and used for patrols; for this reason the unit itself is sometimes called a patrol truck or simply "patrol".[9] Most other dispatch areas require the Type 6 to have a minimum of 3 personnel (required by NWCG policies), and is more popular outside of California due to its ability to go where other engines cannot.
Type 7 are patrol vehicles with a small pump and tank. As a light duty vehicle, they are in the range of 6500lbs10000lbs GVWR.[8] The vehicle has a small 50USgal water tank and can pump 10USgal/min at a pressure of 100psi.[5] It is a multipurpose unit used for patrol, mop up, or initial attack.
Additionally, there are requirements laid out by the National Fire Protection Association in NFPA 1906: Standard for Wildland Fire Apparatus. Some of the many details of the NFPA 1906 include:[1]