Firefighting in The United States - Company Types

Company Types

Fire Companies come in one of several types.

  1. Engine Company
An Engine Company is based on either an engine or a pumper. This company has the primary responsibility of supplying water to a scene, to locate and confine the fire, and extinguish the fire.
  1. Truck Company
A Truck Company is based on a ladder truck, aerial truck or tiller, and has many more responsibilities. Primarily, the company performs the ladderwork and supplies master streams to the fireground. They also perform structural ventilation and overhaul, primary and secondary search & rescue, securing of utilities, and supplies rapid intervention teams.
  1. Rescue Company
The role of a Rescue Company is the search and rescue of victims in an incident such as a fire or road collision. This company has more equipment on its vehicles than a Truck or Engine Company.
  1. Squad
A Squad is a hybrid company consisting of an apparatus equipped with supplies necessary to perform some levels of rescue operations as well as engine and truck company operations. It is also referred to as a Rescue-Engine Company in some departments.
  1. Medic Company
A Medical Company or EMS, is a paramedic service run by the fire department. Many fire services offer some form of emergency medical service, usually in the form of ambulances with EMTs or Paramedics.
  1. Quint
Quints are a very recent addition to the fleets of fire departments. A Quint is a ladder truck that also carries an amount of water and hose line to perform as both a Truck company and an Engine company. It is named because it performs five functions.

Read more about this topic:  Firefighting In The United States

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