Special Response Units

Firefighters have to be prepared for any situation, and sometimes they need special tools and assistance. The Special Response Team is standing by to offer critical aid, communications and tools to firefighters battling large or out-of-the-ordinary fires.

Brush Fire Brush fire personnel use four-wheel-drive, all-terrain vehicles to reach hilly, remote and marshy areas to extinguish fires involving weeds, grass and other vegetation. Along with regular firefighting equipment, they carry their own water, as well as rakes, shovels, and backpack extinguishers.

Foam Water is not always the best substance for extinguishing a fire; large fires involving flammable liquids (such as gasoline) require the response of a pumper-type truck specially equipped to spray foam. The foam acts as a blanket to prevent oxygen from feeding the flames of the burning liquid.

Thawing Apparatus Because most of the biggest and worst fires occur during the coldest days of winter, hoses and equipment often freeze over. The Thawing Apparatus is a mobile utility van with a portable steam-generating boiler; it's super-heated steam melts the ice off the hoses, ladders and tower ladders.

Tactical Support The many large storage compartments of the Tactical Support Unit truck hold specialized tools and equipment not usually carried by other firefighters, such as: special chainsaws for underwater use, powerful electric generators, portable pontoon boats, a telescoping light tower, and night-vision goggles.

Maxi-Water System The Maxi-Water System is comprised of pairs of trucks specially designed to supply large amounts of water to a serious fire. Each pair consists of a 2000 gallon-per-minute pumper truck, and a "Tender" which carries extra-large-diameter hose and a huge water cannon.

Field Communications At the scene of large fires, the Field Communications Unit assists the Incident Commander and becomes the hub of all communications needs. They constantly broadcast the status and progress of the firefighters so other units can ready themselves to respond if necessary.

Mask Service The Mask Service Unit's job is to insure that all air-supply storage depots (located within specific firehouses) have enough full oxygen tanks, and to bring back the empty tanks to be refilled. At major fires they will be dispatched to the scene so firefighters may replenish their air supply.