American firefighter. US fire engineering - we are firefighters

In the "fire" area, the Yankees are also different from other people. Our story is about an original type of US cars under common name custom.

All over the world for such machines, truck chassis are used with minimal modifications. In the States, there are also such cars, but they are usually found only in a poor outback. For large cities, a dozen manufacturers assemble special "devices" (as they call their cars) - on special chassis, with multi-seat cabins, open control panels and tricky add-ons.

It's interesting what components, from cockpits and engines to sirens and beacons, do for everyone. third party manufacturers. But this is not enough famous brands often use each other's chassis, remaining competitors.

01. A classic for the United States of the 1970s, a firefighter, a sort of collective image. Firm superstructure Farrar on chassis Simon Duplex with the location of the controls and I / O on the front panel (this arrangement was very popular in the western states). Cabin - production Truck Cab Manufacturers, was called Cincinnati (after the place of birth), was used by two dozen manufacturers.

02. Another unusual example is the unique 45-meter staircase from Chicago. Chassis with forward cab - Hendrickson(once- load line), a superstructure of the well-known Pierce, the staircase itself is a Japanese brand Morita.

03. The most famous car series 900 from one of the oldest and main local brands - American La France(by the name of the owner, has nothing to do with France :-)) Unlike many, it was completely own development(engine and gearbox do not count, there are no such fires in the USA at all), with a recognizable rounded cabin.

04. However, in last years sales began to fall, and in 1995 ALF went bankrupt. But the following year it was bought by Freightliner, and a new model went into production. Eagle, Later - Metropolitan. In the photo - a trailed ladder with such a tractor, unprecedented in the world and beloved in the USA (in the States they are called Tiller("tiller"). Its peculiarity is that the trailer axle is swivel, and is controlled from the "booth" from behind.
Alas, the new model did not save the company, and the production of cars was curtailed twelve years later - they did not like the local firefighters. The US market is very specific and unpredictable for any product!


Photo by Mark Redman

05. Combined machines popular in the USA are called Quint(from the Latin "five": they are at once a pump, a cistern, a sleeve, and also have a sliding and portable ladder). This family car Cyclone II from an authoritative emergency one with Finnish lift bronto(both owned by the American Federal Signal Corp.). Several generations of E-One (in the States, like us, they like to abbreviate words) bore "bad weather names" - Hurricane, Typhoon...

06. Last year, on its 40th birthday e-one timed newest series Quest- with a 550-horsepower diesel engine, an automatic (what else?) gearbox, and elements made of composite materials.

07. Company fame Ferrara brought a series of fire trucks Inferno(good name!) with an enlarged glazing plane. The brand was founded in 1982 by a businessman and, at the same time, a volunteer firefighter in Louisiana.

08. Once an aerospace firm Grumman actively developed the fire department with "cat" series firecat, Aircat, panther, buying up different manufacturers. This is a classic combi ladder Aircat 1993 55ft on chassis Simon Duplex.

09. Company Hendrickson, rolling cargo production, engaged in cargo axles and transmissions. However, the fire department was separated into an independent company. HME, who is active in local market. Machine series RAT(this is not about a rat, but short for R apid A ttack T ruck) are named so because of short base that enhances maneuverability. Unusually, it has a lift Austrian brand Metz(locals do not like imports, even high-quality ones).


Photo by Aaron Mott

10. Its competitor is the local KME (Kovach Mobile Equipment)), founded by retired military John Kovacs, and run first by his son, John Kovacs, and now by a grandson named...yep, John Kovacs! But they know a lot about their business, starting with the first generation of cars with a cute little name Renegade. They were characterized by cabs open at the back ( canopy cab, a popular solution in the southern states) and a "standing" control post.

11. KME is more actively involved in the export program than others. Several foreign companies are building cars on its chassis, including Egypt, South Africa, and even Saudi Arabia. At home, he is popular in "heavy" segments, including military and industrial. Pictured is a heavy quint KME Predator with ladder Aircat(the rights were purchased from the Grumman concern).

12. From classic truck manufacturers The United States built complete fire trucks only a few. Among them once was Kenworth. Until the early 1980s, the program had a special chassis L700 with a cabover low cab, but it never became widespread.


Photo by Melvin Bernero

13. Another thing is the brand Mack. His special fire chassis were equipped with both their own superstructures and dozens of third-party brands. Series CF-600 was very popular until the late 1980s.

14. One of the leading manufacturers of American fire engines, the company Pierce turned one hundred and two years - a respectable period. Broad program, large volumes, Hi-tech- all this is combined with strange, but traditional solutions. Here is this all-wheel drive "tender" of the series Arrow XT(the title of the series was specially bought from an outsider passenger brand Pierce-Arrow) was made for the Antarctic station. At the same time, it is equipped with an external open control panel. This is the power of tradition!

15. In his program and the heaviest "tiller" with a three-axle tractor Pierce Impel. The length of the flight of stairs is 34 meters vertically and 30 meters horizontally. At the same time, the road train transports a crew of 10 people, 1100 liters of water, 200 liters of foam concentrate, hose and other equipment.


Photo by Melvin Bernero

16. Things are not easy in the States for the world's largest manufacturer of fire fighting equipment, the concern Rosenbauer. For more than 15 years he has been trying to break into the market by buying up five famous local brands. And only with the advent of his own cabins, his new series Centurion began to actively sell. The latest was a 34-meter lift Tyrannosaur Rex with abundance electronic stuffing.

17. Today's most classic American "Custom" bears a famous name seagrave(the company has existed since 1881). With the advent of the model in 1979 Patriot she reached the local Olympus by entering into a multi-year contract with the New York Fire Department. Later it was replaced by a series with a striking name for a lifeguard. Marauder, but the company still serves the country's largest metropolitan areas.

18. Your brand name Spartan received by the name of the city of Spartanburg. It is logical that the most running chassis is called Gladiator. It is very popular with other companies, it is bought most often. Fire and rescue Sirius(frequently used solution in the States) retrofitted by the company Smeal.

19. Another authority is a private firm Sutphen, run by the fifth generation of the family of the same name. The flagship of the brand by name is famous for the richest equipment Monarch- once it was the car with the widest cab. By technical specifications the product is no different from competitors.

20. Now defunct, but still revered brand - Ward La France(founded by the nephew of another La France). For a long time famous for her innovations in the fire theme (the lemon color, now so popular all over the world with rescue services, was offered to her in 1971). her model R-80 Ambassador windshields with complex relief is often used even after several overhauls. This 1970 machine was refurbished in 1985 by Young, and in 1999 - by the firm Central States.


Photo by Melvin Bernero

We will return to the topic of American firefighters and talk about "classic" cars.

Renowned manufacturer of fire fighting equipment, the Rosenbauer concern, continues to amaze with the design and capabilities of its fire fighting machines. So, recently the American branch of the company introduced the latest series of standard Avenger fire engines (“avenger”).

The firefighter looks very aggressive, its chopped design with other recent developments of the concern. In addition to the bright design, the Avenger stands out with some solutions that are unusual for American fire engines.

The seats in the cockpit are attached to the guides, as in aircraft, which allows you to quickly change their number. The cabin is finished not with plastic, but with aluminum with a special coating - this should increase the service life. But the outer body panels, on the contrary, are made of plastic, which is indifferent to rust, and light.

As for the units, the Avenger is equipped with Cummins engines with power from 380 to 450 hp. Gearbox - "automatic" Allison. For better maneuverability, the front axle of the Hendrickson Steertek brand has an angle of rotation of the wheels as much as 64 degrees.

Like other similar machines, Avenger is made on a modular basis. Depending on the requirements of the buyer, it can be equipped with one of three body options, as well as different models of pumps of our own production.

American fire engines tend to be longer and wider than European ones - there are simply no medieval narrow city streets in the USA. no and common standards: each division orders a car to its taste

Carrycot equipment

includes a fire monitor, a boom control panel and an air supply system: while on the platform, firefighters can not consume oxygen from their own cylinders.

Cradle

to rescue people and deliver fighters to the source of fire. The computer automatically maintains the cradle in a horizontal position with any movement of the boom.

Slewing and lifting boom

9.4 meters long with a platform with a load capacity of 680 kg and hydraulic pump with a capacity of 7500 liters per minute.

Hydraulic supports

prevent the machine from tipping over with the boom raised. The computer does not allow you to move the boom into a dangerous position.

Receiving fitting

for a fire hydrant. The car's own tank is designed for 1100-1900 liters. Inside the tank there are perforated partitions to dampen water vibrations during movement.

Combat crew cabin

accommodates up to 10 people. Inner space designed to meet noise and vibration standards, there is climate control.

doors

have a special design without protruding parts both outside and inside. Even when the door cannot be fully opened, the firefighter can freely get out of the vehicle without getting caught in his clothes.

Stainless steel

not cheap, but practical and durable. Lightweight stainless steel body panels save pounds of weight to hold more water.

Electronics

and all electrical equipment vehicle, including beacons LED lamps, powered by two independent energy systems.

Fact!

fire truck lift seagrave costs about $1.1 million. Vehicle length - 12 m, height - 3.3 m. Engine Cummins has a capacity of 500 liters. With.

Technique. FDNY-a park

rescue vehicle

Division machines FDNY Rescue called the workshop on wheels. Freeing the victims from the rubble, the fighters use hydraulic scissors, saws, climbing equipment.

tank truck

Main fire truck FDNY carries 500 gallons (about 1900 liters) of water to the fire, powerful pump, hose equipment and a team of ten people.

technicalHaz-Mat

On fires with AHOV (emergency chemically hazardous substances, they are also hazardous materials) leaves the tandem from the main rescue vehicle and technical equipment with special tools.

mobile hospital

Medical Unit Machine EMS MERV replaces several ambulances. In it, doctors can provide assistance to several victims at the same time.

Photo: Legion-media (x4), Peter Stehlik

Wrote in my journal small review(quite a long time already), I'll copy it here - let it be :)

American fire trucks

Vehicles in the service of the American fire department are made almost exclusively in the USA. Most of this equipment is produced on special orders, and manufacturing companies are ready to fulfill almost any wish of the customer. However, very few of the vehicles produced resemble European ones due to differences in firefighting tactics in European countries And North America. US-made fire equipment also finds buyers in Canada and Mexico, whose fire protection is similar to the American one. Separate copies of American fire engines can be found in countries with a completely "European" fire department, including in Russia.

Of the foreign firms whose fire equipment is available in the United States, Rosenbauer, Bronto Skylift and Metz can be noted. True, the fire equipment produced by these companies looks quite American (and is often built on an American chassis).

In the United States itself, fire equipment is made by many specialized companies, for example, Pierce, Emergency One and American LaFrance. Fire trucks in the vast majority of cases are made on American-made chassis. Fire equipment with a cab and chassis from a conventional truck is called commercial; if the cab and chassis were produced by the "fire" company itself, such a car is called custom. "Commercial" cars usually have a classic layout (engine in front of the cab), often with one row of seats, while "special" cars usually have a wagon layout (engine under the cab) with two rows of seats.

Sometimes, usually in countryside, used fuel trucks, tankers, etc. (civilian or military) are converted into fire trucks.

In addition to companies that make fire trucks themselves, there are many small companies that produce specific equipment for them: lighting masts, devices for attaching tools to compartments, special signals, etc.

Types of fire trucks

Auto pump (engine, pumper). By Russian classification the type of cars that will be discussed here refers more to tank trucks, but here we will call it an auto pump, so as not to be confused with another class of vehicles, which will be discussed below.

An auto pump in the USA is called an engine or a pumper. A typical autopump has a cabin for the calculation of six people (driver, officer, and four ordinary firefighters). Devices for attaching gas masks are usually integrated into the seatbacks; there may also be lanterns, axes, fire extinguishers, etc. in the cabin. I must say that safety rules require the firefighter to first fasten his belt, and only then turn on the breathing apparatus. However, this is inconvenient, and many firefighters do the opposite, which is why some fire departments have abandoned the installation of devices in the back of the seats and place them in external compartments.

On the vast majority of American fire trucks, the pump is located in the middle of the vehicle, between the cab and the tank. There are nozzles on the sides, and the control panel is located on the side or top of the pump. In the latter case, the mechanic stands on a kind of platform between the cabin and the pump, having all-round view. A fire monitor is also placed above the pump.

The traditional for Europe location of the pump at the rear is a rarity for American fire equipment, with the exception of light forest patrol vehicles. On city car pumps, even when the pump is located at the back, the control panel is usually placed on the side. The location of the pump in front of the cab can occasionally be seen on machines for rural areas.

The pump capacity is typically around 1500 gpm (95 l/s), however this is the maximum performance at low pressure; the higher the outlet pressure, the lower the performance.

In cities with many skyscrapers, you can find auto pumps high pressure; In some major cities there are also special fire water pipelines with high pressure hydrants.

The pump is powered by a power take-off (on specialized vehicles can be powered by a separate gasoline engine). On some machines, the pump may also operate while the vehicle is moving.

The foaming system (on machines where it is available) can be integrated with the pump or connected to the hoses from the outside. Last time widespread received CAFS systems. They inject into the pump not only a foaming agent, but also compressed air. Thus, ready-made foam goes along the sleeve; sleeves become lighter and there is no need for special foam barrels.

Hydraulic elevators are not widely used in the USA.

Next to the pump there are shelves on which hose lines are laid in a special way. Three or four sections of the sleeves are connected to each other and to the barrel and connected to the pump. This laying is very convenient for quick laying of hoses in case of fires in low-rise buildings (in the USA, small diameter hoses have threaded connections, which slows down the connection of sections).

Behind the pump is a body, in the center of which is a water tank. In a typical city car pump, its volume is 1-2 thousand liters, in cars for rural areas - more.

The space around and behind the tank is occupied by compartments for fire-technical weapons: trunks, fans, saws, tools for breaking doors, waterproof equipment, etc.

Above the compartments on special shelves, large-diameter hose lines are laid like on Russian hose cars. Suction arms are usually placed not in canisters, but on open brackets.

There are usually at least two ladders on the autopump: one section, for opening a sloping roof, and two or three sections, for access to the roof or windows. For ladders, special long compartments or brackets are provided outside the case. In any case, the ladders are at about chest level. On new machines, you can often see frames for ladders, in the “stowed” position above the body, and to remove the ladders, they go down with the help of an electric motor.

Hose reels with rigid pressure hoses on modern car pumps (except for forestry / forest patrol vehicles) are rare due to the small diameter compared to conventional pressure hoses.

Rapid response vehicles (mini- pumpers). These are light autopumps on the chassis of a pickup truck, the task of which is to start extinguishing the fire before the arrival of the main forces.

Tank truck (tanker, tender). American tank trucks carry a much larger volume of water than truck pumps, and operate most often in rural areas with a poorly developed network of hydrants. Due to this, they carry fewer fighters, a smaller supply of sleeves and fire-technical weapons. Tanker trucks are optimized for quick water intake and discharge during shuttle operations (tankers run between the water source and the fire site, where water is fed directly to the truck pump or drained into a collapsible pool that serves as a source for the truck pump). There are vacuum tankers in which water is collected by creating reduced pressure in the cistern.

Ladder (ladder, truck, aerial). In North America, the calculation of an auto ladder traditionally performs such tasks as reconnaissance and rescue of people, smoke removal (including by opening the roof), lighting, installation of portable ladders, etc., that is, almost everything except directly extinguishing a fire from trunks. Therefore, the American ladder transports 4-6 people, a set of sliding ladders, fans and other fire protection equipment. On modern ALs, there are almost always fire monitors with a telescopic pipe for supplying water, and many have cradles for saving people, controlling the ladder and the fire monitor (often it has telecontrol). There are often air tanks at the bottom of the stairs; you can connect to them from the cradle and not waste air in your breathing apparatus.

Almost all of the above applies to articulated lifts.

The length of ladders in the US rarely exceeds 30-35 meters. The turntable is located at the rear or middle of the vehicle. Rear location reduces the length of the car, and the average, as many believe, makes it easier to choose the location of the car for fire fighting.

Tractor ladders with semi-trailers differ from conventional ones not only in the large volume of fire extinguishers transported, but also, oddly enough, in higher maneuverability, which is achieved by controlling rear axle semi-trailer. For this, there is a special cabin for the helmsman in the tail of the trailer.

Very common in the United States are heavy ladders with cradles, in which the weight is not carried by the ladder itself, but by a telescopic boom with a rectangular section, as on articulated lifts or truck cranes. Actually the staircase is based on this design.

Auto pump with ladder (quint). Combines the functions of an autopump and an autoladder. It is adjoined by squrt/telesqurt/telesquirt machines - autopumps with a low water tower, to which a lightweight sliding ladder can be attached. Such machines are not full-fledged AL or ACL, but rather, they are autopumps with advanced capabilities.

Automobilesmoke removal(mobile ventilation unit). In the USA, fans are transported on autopumps and especially on ladders; AD in its purest form is very rare. They are pickup trucks with a large fan located openly.

Staff cars (commandvehicle). They can be anything from passenger car to the road train with kitchen, toilet and satellite connection.

rescue vehicle (rescue). These cars are very different. They are usually divided by class (light, medium, heavy) and by body type (walk-in or walk-around).

A light rescue vehicle is usually made on a pickup truck chassis, medium and heavy ones - on a chassis truck, rarely - a tractor with a semi-trailer.

In a walk-in body you can enter (sometimes there are seats) in the back of the same type walk around compartments are only accessible from the outside, as in most fire engines. The first type allows, if necessary, to use the car as a staff car, the second saves space.

On rescue vehicles the most various equipment- hydraulic shears, mine rescue equipment, searchlights, diving equipment, air compressors, etc.

Object vehicles (industrialfireapparatus) include all of the above types. They differ from ordinary ones in more powerful equipment (pumps and fire monitors of greater productivity, main hoses of a larger diameter, tanks and foam tanks of a larger volume). Sometimes they are equipped with gas or powder extinguishing systems that are rare for American fire engines.

Airport vehicles (crashtruck, ARFFvehicle). Heavy tank trucks on chassis off-road with a large supply of water and foaming agent, powerful remote-controlled fire monitors, gas and powder installations, sometimes with foam lifters, on which a special barrel is installed to break through the fuselage of the aircraft and supply water or foam (snozzle) inside. The new machines use twin agent systems, which simultaneously supply foam and powder from one barrel.

In addition to the main airfield vehicles, fire trucks of other classes (AC, ANR, AL) are on duty at airports, as well as light rapid response vehicles (fast attack vehicle, rapid intervention vehicle) to extinguish aircraft before the arrival of the main vehicles.

Forestcars(brush truck, forestry truck). Off-road vehicles on the chassis of a pickup or light truck.

The pump installed on these machines, as a rule, can work when the car is moving. Almost always, the car has sleeve coils and special "forest" sleeves of small diameter. Foaming systems are often available. On some samples, remote-controlled barrels are installed on the bumper, and sprayers are installed under the body. The vehicle can be protected by a welded outer frame against damage in the event of a rollover. A special kind of forest fire trucks - the so-called. bush breakers, i.e. cars that can “break through” through thick bushes.

Many manufacturers offer the so-called. drop-in units, that is, blocks of a pump, tank, hose reels, etc. These blocks are fixed in the back of an ordinary pickup truck, turning it into a light forest fire truck.

Fire medical vehicles (transportationengine, transportationpumper). In many US cities, the ambulance service is combined with the fire department. Therefore, there are, albeit in very small numbers, autopumps with spacious cabins that allow you to place in it not only a calculation, but also a stretcher.

Other fire equipment. There are many auxiliary fire fighting vehicles: lighting vehicles, leakage fighting vehicles hazardous substances(flammable liquids and gases, pesticides, radioactive waste), vehicles for recreation and medical care for firefighters during fires, mobile air compressor stations, cranes and evacuators, mobile fire technical laboratories, field kitchens, etc. etc. Many cars perform several of these functions at once, such as lighting and filling air tanks.

Most of the US fire truck fleet consists of models that were built to order by private companies. The peculiarity of such machines is that they are created on the basis of civilian models of vehicles modified for specific state needs. Among the companies specializing in the production of fire trucks, we should especially note Mack, GVC, Peterbilt.

Classification of fire trucks in the United States

All models fire trucks are divided into 2 large groups:

1) Classic. Their peculiarity lies in the fact that they are an ordinary truck that has been modified and converted to perform firefighting operations. Most truck manufacturers in the United States have models in their arsenal that, through retrofitting, turn into traditional fire trucks. These car models include Peterbult 330-370, as well as International 4000-7000. Such cars have a double cab design, and are also equipped with an elongated chassis.

2) Custom. They belong to the category of models without a hood. These vehicles have a wagon-like cabin that can accommodate up to 12 people in full uniform. The chassis is assembled by the manufacturers themselves, and elements such as the gearbox, engine, axles are ordered separately from third-party suppliers. As for the placement of the engine, its traditional location is in front of the cab. Although the US fleet includes models that have an engine at the rear of the vehicle.

Fire truck brand Ahrens-Fox

This manufacturer of fire trucks entered the history of the automotive industry as the best-selling and successful brand. The first model appeared in 1888. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Ahrens-Fox model was released, which had an internal combustion engine located at the far end of the rear axle.

The company has been having financial problems lately and has been bought out by well-known company in this industry Mack. In 2003, Ahrens-Fox re-entered the market, but the rights to it were bought out by HME.

American LaFrance fire engine brand

Despite the French name, this company has nothing to do with this state. The name of the company comes from the name of its founder. The company has existed on the market of fire trucks since the end of the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, a model was presented that had a knee ladder, the height of which exceeded 33 meters. On this moment it is the standard of quality and reliability not only within the USA.

However, with its pioneering work, American LaFrance honors the traditional fire engine industry. This is manifested in the fact that on the cars of this company the first chain drives appeared only in 1935, and diesel engines were installed only in 1966.

In the second half of the 20th century, the company produces new model fire truck, which was called "700". Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it went through a series of changes that contributed to its transformation into the famous version of the Century fire engines.

Manufacturer Emergency One

The peculiarity of this company is that it is a newcomer to this industry. It was first registered only in 1975. At the moment, the company produces more than 800 vehicles a year, being in the top three in the United States in the production of fire engines for various purposes. Fire departments of almost all states have at their disposal vehicles of this manufacturer.

Emergency One positioned itself as a seller of fire equipment suitable for all types of jobs. However, throughout its existence, the company specialized in the production of fire engines equipped with chassis, which were mounted on American jeeps and SUVs. The company worked in most cases on order, supplying models without hoods.

Thus, it can be concluded that the fire truck market in the United States is represented by a large number of manufacturers who specialize in various areas of fire fighting. A number of companies produce models that are a modification of traditional trucks and SUVs, and some companies supply only models assembled in their own workshops based on American components.

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