Home Fire Safety
Learn important fire safety tips to help your family prepare for and respond to emergencies at home.
Emergency Action Plan
Fire Prevention and Burns
Escaping the House
Meeting Outside and Calling for Help
Outdoor Fire Safety
Learn how to stay safe around campfires, fire pits, and other outdoor fires.
Fire Safety Coloring Pages & Activities
Download and print these free fire safety coloring pages and activities for kids.
Learn about Fire Trucks and Apparatus
Fire trucks and fire apparatus are specialized emergency vehicles built for specific jobs, including pumping water, carrying ladders, rescuing victims, fighting wildfires, handling hazardous materials, and coordinating major incidents. Knowing the difference between each type helps explain why firefighters use multiple apparatus to respond safely and effectively to different emergencies.
Fire Engine (Pumper)
The fire engine is the most common vehicle in a fire department's fleet. Its primary job is to deliver water to extinguish fires.
Fire engines carry a water tank for immediate firefighting and can connect to fire hydrants to save the stored water for when it's really needed. They also transport hoses, nozzles, pumps, hand tools, and basic medical equipment, allowing firefighters to respond quickly to many different emergencies.
Ladder Truck (Aerial Truck)
Ladder trucks are designed to reach places that ground ladders can't.
Their extendable aerial ladders help firefighters access upper floors, rescue people from tall buildings, and direct water onto fires from above. Many ladder trucks also carry ventilation tools used to remove smoke and heat from buildings during a fire.
Quint
A quint combines several important firefighting functions into one vehicle. The name comes from the five major features it carries:
- A pump
- A water tank
- Fire hose
- An aerial ladder
- Ground ladders
Because of its versatility, a quint can perform many of the same jobs as both a fire engine and a ladder truck, making it especially useful for departments that need one vehicle to handle multiple tasks
Rescue Truck
Rescue trucks are built to carry the equipment firefighters need for complex rescue operations.
These vehicles often respond to vehicle collisions, building collapses, and technical rescue incidents. They may carry hydraulic rescue tools, rope rescue equipment, lifting airbags, cutting tools, medical supplies, and other specialty tools needed to free trapped victims safely.
Brush Truck
Brush trucks are built to fight wildfires and grass fires in areas where larger fire engines cannot easily travel.
They are smaller and more maneuverable than standard fire engines, allowing them to drive on dirt roads, forest trails, and rough terrain. Their heavy-duty suspension helps them stay stable when carrying equipment across uneven ground. Brush trucks typically carry smaller water tanks, high-pressure pumps, hand tools, and off-road tires that provide better traction on loose soil, mud, and rocky terrain.
Tanker (Water Tender)
Not every community has fire hydrants nearby. In rural areas, firefighters often rely on tanker trucks - also called water tenders - to transport large amounts of water to the scene.
These vehicles shuttle water between a reliable water source and firefighters working to control the fire, helping maintain a continuous water supply when hydrants are not an option.
Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Vehicle
Airports use specialized emergency vehicles known as ARFF vehicles.
These large trucks are designed to respond quickly to aircraft emergencies. They carry water, firefighting foam, dry chemical agents, and equipment designed to handle fuel fires and aircraft rescues.
Because every second matters during an airport emergency, ARFF vehicles are built for both speed and performance.
Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Unit
Some emergencies involve dangerous chemicals, gases, or other hazardous substances rather than fire.
HazMat units transport the tools and equipment needed to identify hazardous materials, contain spills, monitor air quality, and protect both emergency responders and the public. Firefighters assigned to these units receive additional training to safely handle hazardous situations.
Command Vehicle
Large emergencies require careful coordination.
Command vehicles serve as mobile offices where fire officers monitor the incident, communicate with other agencies, review maps, and direct emergency operations. These vehicles are equipped with radios, computers, and communication technology that helps crews work together efficiently.
Resources
Additional resources and fun, kid-friendly fire safety activities that you can explore: