Yesterday we wrote about the rollout of Victoria’s new ground-based $82.1 million forest firefighting fleet. Now, above, thanks to Wol, we have a video about the new trucks. The slide-outs for a chain saw and spare tire are interesting.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said the 306 new firefighting vehicles to be rolled out over a six-year period were specifically designed to provide greater protection to fire crews and would deliver increased water carrying capacity of 630 litres (166 gallons), up from 400 litres (105 gallons) previously.
The new vehicles, based on the Mercedes Benz G Wagon, are fitted with equipment designed for Department of Environment and Primary Industries’ (DEPI) firefighting and planned burning needs, including cabin fire curtains for improved crew safety and, the highest level of falling object protection for a vehicle of this size.
There’s a front quarter photo of the UTV that has 95/5 gal. water/foam tankage at the Brazos Canyon Volunteer Fire District Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BrazosCanyonVolunteerFireDistrict), either on their photo page or their July 13, 2014 “UTV Training Day” post. Unfortunately, it doesn’t show the back. Maybe someone recognizes this vehicle.
Full-size fire engines do have access to the “subdivision”, but maneuvering on some of the unpaved side roads, long sloping driveways, and near some properties could be a challenge in the thick trees. And it is a box canyon that’s several miles deep and has steep walls, with the one usable way out being to the west, from the direction of prevailing winds.
A neighbor volunteer FD has an ATV that carries 100 gallons (95 water- 5 foam).
I don’t know about that particular ATV, but there are many fire vehicles that carry more than they are designed can handle, especially in rural areas. I encourage fire departments to weigh their fire apparatus and compare it to the GVW. An overweight vehicle is a safety hazard for the occupants.
A rule of thumb for estimating the weight of the firefighting apparatus on a fire engine, with water but nothing else, is to assume 10 pounds per gallon. That takes into account the weight of the water, pump, plumbing, valves, compartments, and the tank itself. Then when you start adding 5-gallon pails of foam concentrate, personal gear, firefighters, tools, chain saw gas, and hose, it adds up quickly. Pretty soon you’re 3,000 pounds over the GVW.
Organizations are realizing this, and you’re seeing more Ford F-450 and F-550 trucks out there with a GVW of 16,500 and 19,500 pounds.
800+ pounds of liquid on an ATV frame, plus the weight of the operator and tanking unit, sounds like a recipe for a disaster unless you’re on flat ground with a well-experienced operator.
100 gallons of water plus tank probably weighs more that the ATV itself – that is pretty much saying “please, roll over and crush me”.
Now, a UTV (or side by side, Ranger, etc), they are capable of carrying closer to that weight and have lower center of gravity.
I bet that is what he was talking about. Our 6×6 has a 1200 pound bed capacity.
UTV is likely much more the correct term; I’ll try to find out more about the vehicle. It has a lengthened wheel base. This particular VFD serves a “suicide subdivision” in a west-facing canyon with effectively only one way out and a lot of closely spaced Ponderosa, some of it just about touching or overhanging homes. Terrain in the canyon floor is mostly pretty gentle. So, the UTV would let the VFD get to places where even small brush trucks can’t squeeze in.
If a full sized engine cannot get into a subdivision on a normal day its a death trap in a fire situation. Would post it, write it off and suggest a few timber companies for some severe fuel modification, to include unimproved summer only escape roads.
Holy crap!!!! Why not at least 500 gallons????
Bill
Bill – the Aussies have a good understanding of their needs, including the kind of terrain they fight fire in, and their tactics. This size “tanker” works well for them.
Also look at our US ICS standards for engines: Type 6 only reqiures 150 gallons, and Type 4 has 400 gallons. Bigger is not always better.