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Old 31st July 2020, 10:26   #1
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Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

Emergency vehicles play a very important part in our lives. Thousands of lives are saved every year by these vehicles and among emergency vehicles, the most important (arguably) are fire fighting vehicles. Whatever the mishap, fire fighting vehicles are the first to arrive on the scene.

Whether it is dousing fires in cars, buildings, airports, factories or godowns, rescuing people from collapsed buildings, chopping fallen trees to free roads, plane crashes, rescuing people drowning in the sea or even freeing birds hanging from trees (courtesy kite line), fire fighters are pressed into action.

Let us have a look at some of the vehicles used by our fire fighting department.

Water Tender:

The most common of the fire fighting vehicles, this vehicle is used to transport water from a water source to a fire scene. They are used in situations such as fire and mob control and can seat a driver + 6 people.

Water tenders are typically equipped with water tanks, water monitor, high capacity pump, water hose reels and lockers. They can be fitted with accessories like warning light bars, spot lights, search lights, PA systems and hooters.

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Images: Brijbasi, Hi-Tech

Foam Tender:

Foam Tenders are used for extinguishing fires caused by flammable liquids and prevent liquid spills from igniting. They carry flouro protein foam liquid and foam making equipment. They are useful for controlling fires in restricted access areas, such as basements, ship holds etc.

Foam tenders are equipped with a foam tank, a foam monitor, foam system, foam pump (manual / automatic) and lockers.

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Images: Hi-Tech, UMC, Brijbasi

DCP Tender:

Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) Tenders are mostly used in electrical department to control fires without using water or foam. These are used to extinguish electrical fires and situations where the use of water can have a negative impact.

DCP tenders are equipped with DCP Vessels, expellant gas, DCP monitor, hose reels with trigger pistols and lockers.

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Images: UMC, Brijbasi

One can get a combination of a water and foam tender or a foam and DCP tender.

Water Bowser:

Water Bowsers are used to move large quantities of water for fighting fires to different locations. They supply water to different fire fighting vehicles or act as a static emergency water supply. They are extremely useful while fighting large fires.

The tank of the water bowser can be filled from any hydrant or other water supply, or open water using the onboard pump. The vehicle also comes with a demountable pump, which allows it to be used for quick attack purposes. The truck is equipped with a high-pressure water monitor and hydraulic / pneumatic / manual controls and lockers.

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Images: Hi-Tech, Brijbasi

Foam Bowser / Nurser:

A Foam Bowser works just like a Water Bowser. It replenishes foam to front line fire tenders.

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Images: UMC, Brijbasi

Emergency Rescue Tender:

The Emergency Rescue Tender is a two-seater fire fighter that carries a wide range of heavy rescue equipment to rescue people from fires in roads, rails, airplane accidents etc. It comes with a crane, has a winch and carries rescue equipment which includes airbags, still saw, windscreen cutters, generators, breathing equipment, water and flood rescue equipment and lighting equipment.

The tender also has hydraulic rescue equipment, lifting bags, jumping cushions, lockers and pull-out drawers with self-locking system.

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Images: Hi-Tech

Hazmat Apparatus:

A hazardous material (hazmat) vehicle is used by emergency services to respond to calls involving potentially hazardous materials. A hazmat truck is customized to suit the needs of the agency responsible for the apparatus, which may be a rescue squad, fire department, emergency medical services, law enforcement agency, or military.

A hazmat vehicle comes equipped with a pneumatic light mast, flood lights, electric or hydraulic winch, pull trays for storage and lockers. For the fire department, it is equipped with fire and rescue equipment.

Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India-hazmat-2.jpg

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Images: 111 Emergency

Hydraulic Platform:

These are essentially ladder trucks with platforms for fire fighting. They come in various models with working heights of 19 – 70 meters. These vehicles can be equipped with generators, breathing equipment, hydraulic rescue equipment, escape chute, thermal imager, video camera with recorder, stretcher, carrier and more.

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Images: Liftmak

Crash Fire Tender:

This vehicle is designed for use at aerodromes and airports in aircraft accidents. It can accelerate fast compared to other fire tenders and is able to negotiate rough terrain outside the runway and airport area. It can carry large capacities of water and foam and is fitted with powerful high-capacity pumps and water / foam cannons.

In order to avoid wasting time, the dash to the crash spot must not only be as fast, but also as short as possible during which obstacles like fences and hedges are driven over. The Crash Fire Tender should also be able to cross difficult grounds at a very high speed.

Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India-crash1.jpg

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Images: UMC, Brijbasi

Rosenbauer of Austria specialises in making such vehicles. Here's a video of the Panther 6x6, which is among their popular models.



Yes, we have some of these in India too:

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Information sourced from NewAge, Hi-Tech, Brijbasi, UMC and others.
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Old 31st July 2020, 10:29   #2
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re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

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Old 31st July 2020, 11:24   #3
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re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

Here is one of my favourite videos. You can see the truck defy physics to reach the distressed aircraft. The alarm you hear on turns is the tilt alarm. Sloshing water, high centre of gravity and drivers with the sole aim to reach the destination as fast as possible.

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Old 31st July 2020, 16:20   #4
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re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

Wow, what a compendium.
I remember seeing those 6x6 at some airport, looked real chic compared to the regular bus/truck shaped fire tenders.

I wonder how do they extinguish fires and rescue people in skyscrapers (say at Gurgaon or Mumbai)?

Last edited by alpha1 : 31st July 2020 at 16:30.
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Old 2nd August 2020, 11:20   #5
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Re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

Quote:
Originally Posted by blackwasp View Post
Here is one of my favourite videos. You can see the truck defy physics to reach the distressed aircraft. The alarm you hear on turns is the tilt alarm. Sloshing water, high centre of gravity and drivers with the sole aim to reach the destination as fast as possible.
These trucks are really impressive pieces of engineering. The US airports generally use the Oshkosh Striker's like in the video. The big Indian airports all use the Rosenbauer 6×6 Panthers.


Quote:
The response time norms require ARFF teams to arrive at the scene within two minutes, for ‘on runway’ incidents, and within three minutes for ‘off-runway’ incidents anywhere within the airport perimeter.

This response time requirement has resulted in the development of specialised Airfield Crash Fire Tenders (ACFTs) which can only be described as “super trucks”. Weighing well over 25~30 tons, twice more than a regular road truck, these tenders can accelerate to 100 kmph in under 30 seconds, thanks to special engines developing between 700 BHP to 1,000+ BHP
From detailed write up on how airport fire services are equipped and trained - https://www.bangaloreaviation.com/20...-airports.html
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Old 2nd August 2020, 13:02   #6
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Re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

Quote:
Originally Posted by alpha1 View Post
Wow, what a compendium.
I remember seeing those 6x6 at some airport, looked real chic compared to the regular bus/truck shaped fire tenders.
Quote:
Originally Posted by VellVector View Post
These trucks are really impressive pieces of engineering. The US airports generally use the Oshkosh Striker's like in the video. The big Indian airports all use the Rosenbauer 6×6’s
Corresponding to BHPians Alpha1 & VellVector’s post above, sharing a video on the working of the Panthers in Bangalore International Airport Rosenbauer which ACI Magazine had shot a while back.

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Old 2nd August 2020, 13:03   #7
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Re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

On paper, the Panther looks to good. But reality could be different.

This is a news from Thiruvananthapuram where 11 fire fighters were injured despite the Panther being in action.

https://m.timesofindia.com/city/thir...w/69436124.cms

Or perhaps the Panther is only suited for airport fires and doesn't make a difference in other areas.

Last edited by Gannu_1 : 2nd August 2020 at 13:13. Reason: Removing youtube URL. Shared above.
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Old 2nd August 2020, 14:17   #8
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Re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

Great information, thank you.
I am curious about small lanes where such vehicles cannot enter (most of the towns here and also industrial areas of old cities). Are there Tata Ace or Mahindra Suppro type vehicles for this role?

Also, can anyone explain why the concept of fire hydrants did not catch on in India? Thanks.
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Old 2nd August 2020, 15:22   #9
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Re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aditya View Post
Let us have a look at some of the vehicles used by our fire fighting department.
A very interesting and informative write-up Aditya.
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Old 2nd August 2020, 16:26   #10
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Re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

Wow. Very nice and detailed thread. Really informative. Didn't know so many different kinds of fire fighting vehicles are there. Till now have only seen large red colored ones at fire stations in Mumbai and Panther at Bangalore airport. It surely looks purpose built.

Wondering where are all the fire hydrants gone these days. Don't remember when I saw one last. During childhood always used to wonder what they were and what purpose they served, and now that I know their significance, don't seem to find them anywhere.

Thank you once again for such an informative thread.
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Old 2nd August 2020, 20:53   #11
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Re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

As kids Fire Engines are one of the most intriguing machines ever. Apparently that stands true for me as an adult too. Thank you so very much for this thread!
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Old 2nd August 2020, 22:34   #12
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Re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cessna182 View Post
Great information, thank you.
I am curious about small lanes where such vehicles cannot enter (most of the towns here and also industrial areas of old cities).
There was a huge uproar when a smaller version was procured in Kerala. It felt like a jugaad version and most of them broke down. Their brakes failed given the massive load.
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Old 3rd August 2020, 14:24   #13
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Re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

Being in the Airports Authority of India we saw, interacted and even went for a spin in a CFT at Jaipur Airport. The Yellow and Black Rosenbauer looks straight out of a Transformers movie to me

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Old 4th August 2020, 18:46   #14
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Re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

Quote:
Originally Posted by alpha1 View Post
Wow, what a compendium.
I wonder how do they extinguish fires and rescue people in skyscrapers (say at Gurgaon or Mumbai)?
Permission to build skyscrapers are given based on one of the many criteria that there should be a fire fighting vehicle with tall ladders available in the vicinity. That was one of the reasons (along with some other issues) why the grand project of tallest building in Pune near Paud Flyover on Karve Road got approved so late.
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Old 5th August 2020, 14:58   #15
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Re: Pics: Fire Fighting Vehicles in India

Quote:
Originally Posted by Labrador View Post
Being in the Airports Authority of India we saw, interacted and even went for a spin in a CFT at Jaipur Airport. The Yellow and Black Rosenbauer looks straight out of a Transformers movie to me

[]

Attachment 2037764
At every airport trip i'm more inclined towards the fire trucks than the aeroplanes. Looking at one closely is my dream since childhood, let's hope one day.
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