Fire Engines Photos

This photo very nicely illustrates the dual hose reels fitted to French off-road wildland and forest firefighting pump tankers.

On the left side, the 23mm semi-rigid hose reel, whch is pretty much the same as hose reel equipment fitted to all other pumpers in France. It is intended to operate within 30M of the truck, and can be operated while the truck is being driven ("pump and roll").

On the right, the 32mm unlined flat hose, which in this case is yellow for high visibility. This can be used over longer distances and may safely be dragged over burned vegetation because it is porous and becomes soaking wet when operated. More lengths of this hose are carried in the side lockers.

Both are fitted with variable output spray/jet nozzles. The fixed reel uaually has a 100 LPM jet, the flat hose a 150 LPM nozzle. They can of course be used simultaneously, and the pump has outlets to supply up to three 32mm hose lines.

These units are designed to operate with a four person crew. One commoin strategy is to operate in teams of four units, supported by one or more high capacity tankers.

Added by Rob Johnson on 03 December 2013.

This one happens to be a MAN. French SDIS operate mainly Renaults in this role, but there are also a lot of MANs and Unimogs, as well as some older IVECOs. Tank capacities vary, but 4000 liters is typical of newer units.

Actually, these off-road wildland pump-tankers are the most common type of fire truck in France, slightly outnumbering the national fleet of structural fire pumpers. Many fire stations in central and southern France have two or more, seasonally manned by volunteers.

Added by Rob Johnson on 06 August 2014.

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