BRUSH TRUCKS

SHOULD EVERY RURAL F.D USE BRUSH TRUCKS OR JUST STILL USE ENGINES

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Permalink Reply by JOHN on January 1, 2009 at 8:45pm

Or department has a brush truck, "ATTACK 23", two enigines. "ENGINES 22 + 25", a rescue truck, "RESCUE 24", and an EMS unit,"UNIT 21," a 2006 durango. on a brush fire we take 23, and if we can get an engine there 25. but we usually take 25 and park it on the road to fill the attack truck back up

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Permalink Reply by Chaz2771 on January 3, 2009 at 11:59pm

We have a brush truck. I was told from some of the senior guys that they used to roll the brush truck first if it was a grass or brush fire. But how ever many years back they got paged out to a grass fire in a field. So they sent out the brush truck, and being back in those days you couldn't really depend on too many people to show up. And of course this was one of those times and the pumper was 10 or fifteen minutes behind. When the brush truck crew arrived on scene they discovered that in the middle of all this burning grass was a fully involved trailer home. So long story short, by the time they got the engine there the only thing left to save was the axles.

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Permalink Reply by Derek Irvine on January 5, 2009 at 7:06pm

Being from South Australia, where rural "Bush/Brush" firefighting, is a whole different ball game to America. i can only suggest visiting www.fire-brigade.asn.au to observe our appliances/apparatus and how we use them at all types of incidents. Yep, what you might see is actually a Brush Truck at a Motor Vehicle Accident or Structure Fire, let alone a Hazmat. The big difference is that the primary appliance to Non-Rural incidents has a higher capacity Pump, and a Lot more Equipment and capability.

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy on January 7, 2009 at 11:04pm

it is we have only been up and going for about 5 years now. we have a mutal aid agreement beteen all the other depts in the county and also in the other counties if we have a house fire they come out as well.

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Permalink Reply by David on January 7, 2009 at 11:25pm

we run 2 brush trucks ( 1995 dodge ram 3500 dully 5 spd, and a 1975 ford 900) and an engine and tanker to ever brush fire. we use the engine and tanker for water and send the ford and dodge in with guys mounted wither ontop or on the front...

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on January 8, 2009 at 4:54pm

A brush truck is one of those "Would be nice to haves" for our Department...We do use ATV'e with pumps and tanks a fair amount of the time...then if we can get to it maybe a smaller tanker with portable pump mounted on it...Some departments have brush trucks...but then again some departments believe in staying outside on structure fires and shooting water in the windows.....Guess who we don't ever call for mutual aid....LOL Stay safe all....Paul

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Permalink Reply by Tony P on January 8, 2009 at 8:09pm

Thanks Derek, nice link! I wish we had some better vehicle pictures on the CFA site.

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Permalink Reply by Tony P on January 8, 2009 at 8:13pm

Now, now Paul - it almost sounds like you're connecting the use of brush trucks with FD's that won't go internal? Surely that's not what you mean mate?

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Permalink Reply by Dale on January 8, 2009 at 8:24pm

we take an engine and brush unit to fires like that, but our "brush unit" is just a gator with a tank on the back and some indian packs

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on January 9, 2009 at 8:04am

No, not at all.....Just one Department in particular.....They know who they are and a few of them stop by here....Just wanted to give a jab if I could.....LOL...anything for a cheap shot.....Paul