Fire Engines Photos

This is a very typical specification for an American maximum capacity tanker, as fire companies seem to quite naturally try to get as much water as possible into them.

The 3000 US gallon tank translates to 11350 liters. Some tankers go as high as 12, 500 - but because of the added weight these often lose their pump, and are only able to use the gravity feed feature. This one - like most others - can actually function as a pumper too, which gives it added flexibility.

Most of the time, if the incident is serious, the tanker crew will open up their port-a-tank and gravity dump the tank contents, for another pumper to use on site. They then leave empty to refill at a hydrant or other water source.

At large fires, there are sometimes three or four portable dams in use, supplied by a relay of tankers which can run to six or more units.

For this reason, these are to be found in almost every rural and small town fire station.

But they are difficult to drive at speed, and do unfortunately have a terrible safety record, especially involvement in single vehicle rollover accidents. One study revealed that they are four times more likely to suffer from these kind of incidents than other types of fire trucks responding to alarms.

Added by Rob Johnson on 23 May 2018.

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