New Zealand Fire Service - Equipment

Equipment

The equipment operated by the New Zealand Fire Service is typical of that run by most Fire Brigades world wide. In both Volunteer and Career districts a typical appliance will be equipped to respond primarily to Fires, having a supply of hoses, a Pump (either driven off the Appliance Motor or separately, depending on the pump configuration; most of NZ's mainstream appliances still use a single motor for both drive and pumping capability controlled via a special gearbox) and a combination of High and Low Pressure Deliveries.

Additional equipment carried may include:

  • Standpipe and Bar for access to Fire Hydrants
  • Suction Pumps and other equipment in order to gain access to water sources other than the Reticulated Supply
  • Assorted Rescue Equipment - Hooligan Tools (aka Halligan Tool in the US), Axes, Sledgehammers (for use in burning buildings etc.)
  • Misc wooden lengths suitable for shoring up unstable structures
  • First Aid Equipment including an AED
  • Salvage Sheets or Groundsheets suitable for holding water in or out
  • Portable Generator and Lighting equipment
  • General purpose Ropes and Lines
  • Additional assorted handtools
  • Aluminium or Wooden Ladders (conventional type)

For Rescue incidents volunteer trucks designated as Pump Rescue Tenders (PRT)'s will carry equipment suitable for Road Crash Rescue response:

  • Hydraulic Spreaders
  • Hydraulic Cutters
  • Hydraulic Jacks
  • Airbags (for lifting)
  • Handtools to support / stand in for the above

Career Staff trucks used for Rescue incidents are designated as Emergency Tenders (ET)'s which will carry all of the above Rescue equipment plus more specialized items used for Industrial Rescue, light USAR and High-Angle Line Rescue.

Additional specialist appliances are usually strategically located in each fire district:

  • Aerial Monitors
  • "Snorkel" or other types of Elevating Platforms
  • Ladders
  • Hazardous Materials Response
  • Command Vehicles
  • Breathing Apparatus Tenders
  • Hoselayers
  • Lighting & Power Generation Units
  • Foam Tenders
  • Water Tankers
  • Technical (Heavy) Rescue Tender - Auckland Fire District only

In New Zealand most designated Rescue Tenders and Emergency Tenders are also Pumping Appliances, known as Pump-Rescue Tenders (PRTs) and may be responded for either requirement.

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