Fire Apparatus & Intended Use

Engine (Type I) (E)

Apparatus

Triple combination pumper, usually carrying 500 gallons of water, hose, pump and 48 feet of ground ladders.

Engine (Type I) (E)

Intended Use

Primary tasks are to locate, confine, and extinguish fire, search and rescue, and render medical aid.

Engine (Type III - Brush Rig) (BR)

A brush rig is a pumper used on grass fires. They are especially designed for rough terrain where access is a problem. They carry anywhere from 600 to 1200 gallons of water. Can be used for incidents where water sources are limited or non-existent.

Engine (OES Type I & III) Office of Emergency Services (O)

OES engines are owned by the State of California’s Office of Emergency Services. They may be dispatched anywhere in the state. They are staffed by the agency they are assigned to.

Truck (T)

Apparatus

Aerial Ladder Truck: usually carries 289 feet of ladder including a 100-foot truck mounted aerial ladder. (Aerials vary in height).

All truck companies carry an assortment of rescue equipment, i.e. Jaws of Life, small inflatable air bags (to lift heavy equipment). They also carry salvage and overhaul equipment, generators, lights, and blowers.

Truck (T)

Intended Use

Their primary tasks are search and rescue, ventilation, securing utilities, salvage and overhaul.

Fast Response Squad (SQ)

The goal of the FRS is to improve emergency response times within the specific geographic service area gaps identified in the Fire Service Standards of Response Coverage Deployment Study and to be an auxiliary support unit capable of rendering medical aid and/or initial fire and rescue incident mitigation.

Battalion Chief (BC)

staff officer that has authority over personnel and equipment assigned to their battalion

Heavy Rescue - Type I (R)

Apparatus

They carry an array of special quipment such as the Jaws of life, wooden cribbing, generators, winches, hi-lift jacks, cranes cutting torches, curcular saws and other forms of heavy equipment unavailable on standard trucks.

Heavy Rescue - Type I (R)

Intended Use

Heavy rescue rigs are primarily designed to provide the specialized equipment necessary for technical rescue situations such as traffic accidents requiring extrication, building collapses, confined space rescue, rope rescues, and swiftwater rescues. They are also on the initial assignment for all commercial and high-rise structures.

Hazardous Materials (HZMT)

HAZMAT is a specialized apparatus to handle hazardous material incidents. Specially trained personnel staff the vehicle.

Airport Heavy Rescue (Lindbergh Field)

• R1 carries 1000 gallons of water, 130 gallons of foam, and 500 pounds of Halon 1211

• R2, R3 carries 2800 gallons of water, 410 gallons of foam

• R5 carries 3000 gallons of water, 410 gallons of foam

These apparatus do NOT leave Lindberg Field.

Airport Crash Rescue - Montgomery/Brown Field

• CR28 carries 1000 gallons of water, 130 gallons of foam @ FS28

• CR43 carries 1000 gallons of water, 130 gallons of foam, and 500 pounds of Halon 1211 @ FS43

Chemical Unit (CU)

Apparatus

These units are generally three-quarter ton pick-ups with a 275-pound chemical extinguishment system and 45-gallon water tank and pump.

Chemical Unit (CU)

Intended Use

CUs are used in underground parking lots and multi-story parking structures when vertical clearance prohibits access by engine companies.

Foam Rig (FM)

Apparatus

A foam rig carries a 750-gallon water tank filled with light water or foam.

Foam Rig (FM)

Intended Use

Its main purpose is to provide protection for the gasoline tank farm located in Mission Valley.

Mobile Operations Detail (MOD)

Medics assigned to the Gaslamp area of downtown on Fridays & Saturdays only, between the hours of 1900-0300. They are assigned in lieu of a first responder due to high traffic during large venue attractions that may slow the response time. These units are either Zuumcrafts or bicycles.

Water Tender (WT)

Water Tenders are mobile water carriers. They provide a source of water for engines and brush rigs on grass fires. They may also be utilized in an area where there is an interruption in the normal water supply.

X-Ray Unit (XR)

This specifically outfitted rig is designed to carry equipment used for x-raying, disarming and detonating potential explosives. A trailer is towed containing a special fabricated cylinder used for detonating explosives.

Communications and Command Van (COM1)

COM1 provides a mobile command and control center for large incidents.

Mobile Canteen (MC1)

Mobile Canteen provides drinks, snacks and responds upon the request of the Incident Commander.

Utility Rig (U)

Utility rigs are used to haul equipment or personnel as needed to and from incidents.

Medic (M)

A medic is a 2-person ambulance equipped for Advanced Life Support (ALS). Their primary objective is to stabilize the patient first, then transport to the nearest hospital. Medic units are staffed with one paramedic and one EMT (Emergency Medical Technician).

Basic Life Support (BLS)

BLS units are ambulances staffed by two EMTs. They are used to transport non-life-threatening patients. BLS is also used for scheduled transport between facilities.

CPTR1 and 2

CPTR1 and CRPT2 are helicopters that can be used to fight grass fires by dropping water or foam on points that the IC has designated. They can also transport ground crews to working grass fires and perform trauma transport in the event that MERCY AIR or REACH AIR is not available. CPTRs are dispatched to all rescues in our outlying areas. They have night vision and hoist capabilities.

CPTR3

Larger helicopters then CPTR1 and 2 - increased capacity to carry personnel or patients, increased water drop capacity.