Fire Engines Photos

LA City fire department was the first US fire department to acquire a firefighting robot last December, and put it to good use only a few days after it was placed into service. It has a 9,000 LPM monitor. In 2019 one was famously used by BSPP for the interior attack role at the Notre Dame cathedral fire, where the danger of falling heavy roofing materials precluded sending human firefighters all the way inside. Not surprisingly, the use of firefighting robots has been quite common in some European countries and in Japan for several years by now...

There are different designs, some including mini bulldozers, for water, foam and ventilation, or a combination. Some are designed for wildland and forest fires, as well as - or instead of - interior structural firefighting. Clearly, the new frontier of firefighting!

Added by Rob Johnson on 17 March 2021.

Although the LA robot has a 9000 LPM monitor fed by twin 4.5" hose lines by two engines, smaller versions are also coming on to the US market with monitors from 4500 LPM upwards. All of these can be carried on a two axle low loader trailer, rather than in a container, and in the case of LA the robot trailer is towed by a regular full size pickup truck.

These remote controlled units have a small diesel engine, neoprene tracks with self protection water curtains and infrared cameras.

Added by Rob Johnson on 18 March 2021.

Since 2015 four firefighting robots have been placed into service in France and at least another seven in Germany. These are generally a bit smaller than the US examples, many with a 3000 LPM monitor fed by a single or by twin hose lines.

One in Marseilles was instrumental recently at a fire involving sixteen heavy transport trucks, while one of the German units was successfully deployed at a very smoky underground car parking garage where numerous cars were burning.

Added by Rob Johnson on 26 March 2021.

Please add your comments about this picture using the form below.

Comments

Your Name

Your email address - this will be shown on the page and will allow the system to notify you of further comments added to this picture.