401 - Fire Suppression Apparatus

The primary purposes of a fire engine include transporting firefighters and water to an incident as well as carrying equipment for firefighting operations. Some fire engines have specialized functions, such as wildfire suppression and aircraft rescue, and firefighting, and may also carry equipment for technical rescue. The exact layout of what is carried on an engine is decided by the needs of the department. For example, fire departments located in metropolitan areas will carry equipment to mitigate hazardous materials and effect technical rescues, while departments that operate in the wildland-urban interface will need the gear to deal with brush fires. Fire engines are equipped with a mounted deluge gun, also known as a deck-gun which directs a heavy stream of water to wherever the operator points it. An additional feature of engines is their preconnected hose lines, commonly referred to as pre-connects. The pre-connects are attached to the engine's onboard water supply and allow firefighters to quickly mount an aggressive attack on the fire as soon as they arrive on the scene. When the onboard water supply runs out, the engine is connected to more permanent sources such as fire hydrants or water tenders and can also use natural sources such as rivers or reservoirs by drafting water. An important note is that pre-connects are typically used for a quick attack or for short-term use, i.e A moving wildfire, or an attack crew needing to put out a small inferno and move quickly to the next. Extensive use of quick attacks could cause extensive strain on a pump; and in many cases- Quick Attack Lines are not rated to combat structure fires or large infernos. A main-attack hose is typically the best option for combatting larger fires. The standard three sizes of hose lines are 1½, 1¾ and 2½ inches. Depending on the size and severity of the fire, hose line requirements vary to get the job done efficiently. Use each size according to the size of each fire or situation necessary to put a fire out. It is important to note that the larger the measured hose; the more cumbersome and heavy it can be along with the exponential increase of water pressure. An important thing to note is to watch your water supply amount, running out of water and leaving a pump running without water will cause irreparable damage to the pumping system which will render the truck useless for any fire-suppression activity.

401.1.2 Engine Seat Placements

This standard establishes standard initial assignments for individual firefighters, according to the seat they occupy on the apparatus. These assignments are intended to minimize the amount of individual direction required before going to work when arriving on the fireground.

Seat 1: Company Officer, Engine Captain – front right seat 

Shall be designated as E##C; I.E "Engine 32 Driver from Engine 32 Officer, Come up."

Responsibilities Include:

• Size-Up and report

• Manage & Monitor all ground communications to Metro/County B.C.C (Bureau of Central Communications) or other surrounding agencies / units.

• Determine offensive/defensive strategy

• Resource Acquisition and Management.

• Check for victims or further scene hazards.

Seat 2: Driver / Pump Operator – front left driver’s seat 

Shall be designated as E##D; I.E "Engine 32 Driver from Engine 32 Officer, Come up."

Responsibilities Include:

• Establish immediate closest water supply.

• Develop Positive Water-Pressure and manage lines.

• Operate as Pump Commander and Monitor.

Seat 3: Senior Crewman or 'Senior' – rear seat immediately behind the driver / pump operator (or middle front seat on three seat apparatus)

This position is given to non-supervisory members who are experienced. Shall be designated as E##; I.E "Engine 32 Driver from Engine 32 Senior, Come up."

Responsibilities Include:

• Assist engineer with water supply.

• Checks all lines for kinks or imperfections on deployment. 

• Performs as RIC Team Leader if circumstances arise.

• Ensure PPE and proper equipment is actively being used by fellow members.

Seat 4: Crewman– rear seat immediately behind the company officer (if present) 

Shall be designated as E##; I.E "Engine 32 Driver from Engine 32 Crewman Come up."

Responsibilities Include:

• Immobilize the apparatus with chocks & blocks.

• Prepare Attack Lines.

• Performs as RIC Team Member if circumstances arise.

• Follow orders of any given personnel on the declared fireground.

An airport crash tender is a specialized fire engine designed for use in aircraft firefighting at aerodromes, airports, and military air bases. And in rare cases can be used in circumstances on a facility's grounds where a fire is incredibly intense that requires a maximum pressure higher than 150PSI/1250GPM. 150/1250 is usually standard on all fire engine deck guns, and in the case where it needs to be substantially higher- a  Airport Crash Tender can double or even triple the output- This comes with a drawback. Crash Trucks are limited in Rescue Tool Capabilities and should be accompanied by an Engine and Quint- Or truck equally. The reasoning comes that Airport Fire Operation Apparatuses typically carry more hoses, with direct access leading up to but not limited to around two to four different supply lines for the vehicle entirely. Hydrant Junctions are present at aerodromes, airports, Airbases, and the such- due to this equal reason that the water consumption is triple that of any Engine or apparatus currently in service. An ARFF Crash Tender offensive-handheld line can reach upwards of 250PSI, and the mounted swivel-deck gun reaches a gargantuan 750PSI. This is the main reason why they should NEVER unless extremely disastrous scenarios are present. It is also imperative for crews to keep not themselves, but others out of the way- with force if necessary. The volumetric pressure of the current could rupture organs on immediate contact if not secondary contact by loss of momentum or force dependent on wind and direction.

Seat 1: Company Commander or Officer – front right seat 

CR##C; I.E "CRASH 32 Driver from CRASH 32 Officer, Come up." (The USAFFP shall use Commander in lieu of 'Officer'.)

Responsibilities Include:

• Size-Up and report

• Manage & Monitor all ground communications from BCC and Air(base)port Operations.

• Determine offensive/defensive strategy

• Resource Acquisition and Management. Determination of HAZMAT deployment is also imperative in this role.

Seat 2: Driver / Pump Operator – front left driver’s seat 

CR##C; I.E "CRASH 32 Officer from CRASH 32 Driver, Come up." 

Responsibilities Include:

• Manage pump operations.

• Coordinate supply and containment plan with other arriving units.

• Supervise the use of hand-lines from the Crash Tender.

Backing Units:

Responsibilities Include:

• Establish of Containment of the perimeter, and perform defensive operations where applicable.

• Perform secondary duties in accordance of their assigned unit.

SanFire's Aviation Division handles all coordinated firefighting operations and certifications from the sky, and performs scouting plans over active fires that are not contained.

Helicopters may be fitted with tanks (helitankers or helitacks) or they may carry buckets. Some helitankers are also outfitted with a front-mounted foam cannon. Buckets are usually filled by submerging or dipping them in lakes, rivers, reservoirs, or portable tanks. The most popular of the buckets is the flexible Bambi Bucket. Tanks can be filled on the ground (by water tenders or truck-mounted systems) or water can be siphoned from lakes, rivers, reservoirs, or a portable tank through a hanging snorkel. Water Forward Companies typically functioned by three tankers and a Battalion Chief can establish operation garrisons nearby an active area to eliminate the wait times in half for the deployment of aerial firefighting. However, it take large periods of time to establish and to pre-connect lines to and from helicopters on the ground-to-air supplement.

AFO focuses on the primary mission of indirect conflict tactics, providing action on large working fires that stretch beyond the direct line of sight of a ground grew, rapid deployment of fire crews, and deployment of chemical based fire retardents in the case of large fire-outbreaks. These personnel are strictly used for the combat of fire, and NOT rescue means.

The minimum staffing requirements for a Aerial Firefighting Operation is:

• One Command Pilot

• (Optional) First Officer

SanFire maintains the Office of the State Fire Marshall and sub-branches to the Office of FIre Prevention which is under the ABU (Arson/Bomb Unit); and utilizes such as the use of law enforcement officers and certified fire science personnel to combat at-risk areas of exposure of potential fire outbreaks that can cause irreparable damage to an ecosystem or local community if given the opportunity. As such, SanFire Law Enforcement Officials; dubbed 'Fire Prevention Officers', are responsible to maintain the San Andreas Fire Code and to maintain the safety of all parks and landmasses within the State of San Andreas and are considered state officers with recognized police powers that extend to the entirety of the state.

SanFire Prevention is only authorized to specific-qualified members, and requires at minimum a Police Officer II ranking within the PD faction, for more details- inquire the SanFire Agency Standards.