Water tender
Encyclopedia
A water tender, also known as a tanker in some regions, is a specialized firefighting apparatus designed for transporting water
from a water source to a fire scene . Water tenders are capable of drafting water from a stream
, lake
or hydrant
.
This class of apparatus does not necessarily have enough pumping capacity to power large hose
lines (like a fire engine
), though it utilizes a smaller pump
to draft from bodies of water. Water tenders are used when there is not a working fire hydrant
within reach of other fire equipment, or a water tender gives a possibility to supply the fire engine(s) with a very rapid connection. Most water tenders are designed to carry loads of 1000 gallon
s (approx. 3800 litres) or more. In the US, 1000 gallons is the requirement in the NFPA standards. Some may carry up to or even upwards of 5000 gallons (approx. 19 000 litres) of water - with a trailer even more .
Typically water tenders support engines and/or trucks like aerials in fires. Water tenders can be used also in chemical accidents
, to clean highway
s after collisions, or pump water in flood
s. Some water tenders carry fire fighting equipment and crew resembling more an engine. These water tenders are able to operate relatively independently. As the most ultimate solutions some water tenders really combine a fire engine and water tender. This kind of unit may have seats for up to six firefighter
s, a water tank of more than 3000 gallon
s (approx. 11 000 litre
s), and basic equipment for fire fighting and rescue . This kind of solution is known, for example, in rural
areas, where a fire engine (with rescue equipment) and water tender are supported by a combined fire engine/water tender unit in overlapping fires or accidents. Numerous wildland water tenders have remotely-controlled nozzles mounted on the front bumper to allow the rig to drive alongside a fire or smoldering area and efficiently wet it down without the crew leaving the rig. Very light water tenders are sometimes used in wildfires. For example, a small tank of 265 gallon
s (1000 litre
s) has been carried by a cross-country vehicle to extinguish smoldering stubs on rough terrain .
A water tender carries typically also some fire fighting equipment. There are various national standards and recommendations on equipment to be carried on water tenders. Some water tenders may carry various kind of hose
s and spray nozzles utilized in forest, building, or industrial fires, as well as a portable water tank
. In addition, tools like axe
, flashlight
s, chemical portable fire extinguishers, a water extinguisher, a SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus), a first aid kit
, adapters, and a hydrant wrench
can be required.
Some tenders carry also foaming agent
s, and extinguishing powders or gases. Sometimes these materials are carried in larger amounts on very specialized, separate units like hose trucks, powder trucks, carbon dioxide extinguishing trucks etc. Specialized Airport Crash Tender
s are used at airport
s to carry larger amounts of water and foaming agents.
An Australian Water Tender can range from a standard fire engine, with a larger-than-usual capacity (usually called a tanker), to a Water Tender equipped with specialty equipment such as fixed monitors and long-throw foam nozzles (usually called a Bulk Water Carrier). Several areas also own converted semi-trailer fuel tankers, capable of holding many thousands of litres of petrol, foam or other retardant. These are most often used in severe HazMat situations, such as oil refinery fires or fuel tanker accidents, where a large and continuous volume of water is needed.
In Britain, a Water Tender is the main appliance for fighting fires. They are specifically designed to fight fires with a secondary role of rescues. They have a crew of 4/5, an officer, a driver and 2/3 firefighters.
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
from a water source to a fire scene . Water tenders are capable of drafting water from a stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
, lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
or hydrant
Hydrant
A hydrant is an outlet from a fluid main often consisting of an upright pipe with a valve attached from which fluid can be tapped. Depending on the fluid involved, the term may refer to:*Fire hydrant*Oil depot*Yard hydrant...
.
This class of apparatus does not necessarily have enough pumping capacity to power large hose
Hose (tubing)
A hose is a hollow tube designed to carry fluids from one location to another. Hoses are also sometimes called pipes , or more generally tubing...
lines (like a fire engine
Fire apparatus
A fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
), though it utilizes a smaller pump
Pump
A pump is a device used to move fluids, such as liquids, gases or slurries.A pump displaces a volume by physical or mechanical action. Pumps fall into three major groups: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps...
to draft from bodies of water. Water tenders are used when there is not a working fire hydrant
Fire hydrant
A fire hydrant , is an active fire protection measure, and a source of water provided in most urban, suburban and rural areas with municipal water service to enable firefighters to tap into the municipal water...
within reach of other fire equipment, or a water tender gives a possibility to supply the fire engine(s) with a very rapid connection. Most water tenders are designed to carry loads of 1000 gallon
Gallon
The gallon is a measure of volume. Historically it has had many different definitions, but there are three definitions in current use: the imperial gallon which is used in the United Kingdom and semi-officially within Canada, the United States liquid gallon and the lesser used United States dry...
s (approx. 3800 litres) or more. In the US, 1000 gallons is the requirement in the NFPA standards. Some may carry up to or even upwards of 5000 gallons (approx. 19 000 litres) of water - with a trailer even more .
Typically water tenders support engines and/or trucks like aerials in fires. Water tenders can be used also in chemical accidents
Chemical accidents
The terms “chemical accident” or “chemical incident” refer to an event resulting in the release of a substance or substances hazardous to human health and/or the environment in the short or long term...
, to clean highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s after collisions, or pump water in flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
s. Some water tenders carry fire fighting equipment and crew resembling more an engine. These water tenders are able to operate relatively independently. As the most ultimate solutions some water tenders really combine a fire engine and water tender. This kind of unit may have seats for up to six firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s, a water tank of more than 3000 gallon
Gallon
The gallon is a measure of volume. Historically it has had many different definitions, but there are three definitions in current use: the imperial gallon which is used in the United Kingdom and semi-officially within Canada, the United States liquid gallon and the lesser used United States dry...
s (approx. 11 000 litre
Litre
pic|200px|right|thumb|One litre is equivalent to this cubeEach side is 10 cm1 litre water = 1 kilogram water The litre is a metric system unit of volume equal to 1 cubic decimetre , to 1,000 cubic centimetres , and to 1/1,000 cubic metre...
s), and basic equipment for fire fighting and rescue . This kind of solution is known, for example, in rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
areas, where a fire engine (with rescue equipment) and water tender are supported by a combined fire engine/water tender unit in overlapping fires or accidents. Numerous wildland water tenders have remotely-controlled nozzles mounted on the front bumper to allow the rig to drive alongside a fire or smoldering area and efficiently wet it down without the crew leaving the rig. Very light water tenders are sometimes used in wildfires. For example, a small tank of 265 gallon
Gallon
The gallon is a measure of volume. Historically it has had many different definitions, but there are three definitions in current use: the imperial gallon which is used in the United Kingdom and semi-officially within Canada, the United States liquid gallon and the lesser used United States dry...
s (1000 litre
Litre
pic|200px|right|thumb|One litre is equivalent to this cubeEach side is 10 cm1 litre water = 1 kilogram water The litre is a metric system unit of volume equal to 1 cubic decimetre , to 1,000 cubic centimetres , and to 1/1,000 cubic metre...
s) has been carried by a cross-country vehicle to extinguish smoldering stubs on rough terrain .
A water tender carries typically also some fire fighting equipment. There are various national standards and recommendations on equipment to be carried on water tenders. Some water tenders may carry various kind of hose
Hose (tubing)
A hose is a hollow tube designed to carry fluids from one location to another. Hoses are also sometimes called pipes , or more generally tubing...
s and spray nozzles utilized in forest, building, or industrial fires, as well as a portable water tank
Portable water tank
A portable water tank is a collapsible temporary tank designed for the reserve storage of water in firefighting, emergency relief, and military applications. These tanks can be either supported or unsupported. The supported tanks have a steel or aluminum frame and range in size from 600 to 5000 US...
. In addition, tools like axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
, flashlight
Flashlight
A flashlight is a hand-held electric-powered light source. Usually the light source is a small incandescent lightbulb or light-emitting diode...
s, chemical portable fire extinguishers, a water extinguisher, a SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus), a first aid kit
First aid kit
A first aid kit is a collection of supplies and equipment for use in giving first aid, and can put together for the purpose , or purchased complete...
, adapters, and a hydrant wrench
Hydrant wrench
A hydrant wrench is a tool used to remove fire hydrant caps and open the valve of the hydrant. They are usually adjustable so as to fit different sized hydrant nuts.-In France:...
can be required.
Some tenders carry also foaming agent
Foaming agent
A foaming agent is a surfactant, which when present in small amounts, facilitates the formation of a foam, or enhances its colloidal stability by inhibiting the coalescence of bubbles....
s, and extinguishing powders or gases. Sometimes these materials are carried in larger amounts on very specialized, separate units like hose trucks, powder trucks, carbon dioxide extinguishing trucks etc. Specialized Airport Crash Tender
Airport Crash Tender
An airport crash tender is a specialised fire engine designed for use at aerodromes and airports in aircraft accidents.Airport Crash Tenders are extremely powerful machines...
s are used at airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
s to carry larger amounts of water and foaming agents.
An Australian Water Tender can range from a standard fire engine, with a larger-than-usual capacity (usually called a tanker), to a Water Tender equipped with specialty equipment such as fixed monitors and long-throw foam nozzles (usually called a Bulk Water Carrier). Several areas also own converted semi-trailer fuel tankers, capable of holding many thousands of litres of petrol, foam or other retardant. These are most often used in severe HazMat situations, such as oil refinery fires or fuel tanker accidents, where a large and continuous volume of water is needed.
In Britain, a Water Tender is the main appliance for fighting fires. They are specifically designed to fight fires with a secondary role of rescues. They have a crew of 4/5, an officer, a driver and 2/3 firefighters.
See also
- Water tanker
- Fire Chief's VehicleFire chief's vehicleA fire chief's vehicle, also called a "chief unit" or a "fire chief's car", "Fly Car", "Fly Vehicle", a "fire car", or sometimes even called a "Buggy" , is a car, truck, or SUV that is used by a fire chief at fire scenes...
- Heavy rescue vehicleHeavy rescue vehicleA heavy rescue vehicle is a type of specialty firefighting or EMS apparatus. They are primarily designed to provide the specialized equipment necessary for technical rescue situations such as auto accidents requiring vehicle extrication, building collapses, confined space rescue, rope rescues and...
- Fire apparatusFire apparatusA fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
- FireboatFireboatA fireboat is a specialized watercraft and with pumps and nozzles designed for fighting shoreline and shipboard fires. The first fireboats, dating to the late 18th century, were tugboats, retrofitted with firefighting equipment....
- Portable water tankPortable water tankA portable water tank is a collapsible temporary tank designed for the reserve storage of water in firefighting, emergency relief, and military applications. These tanks can be either supported or unsupported. The supported tanks have a steel or aluminum frame and range in size from 600 to 5000 US...