The Ultimate Mobile Toolbox
Firefighters have to take dozens of tools and other equipment when responding to a fire or medical call. All of this equipment is stored in several compartments that line the sides and back of the fire engine.
 A fire engine carries dozens of tools and supplies in its compartments, including forceful-entry tools, nozzles and hydrant connection adapters. |
Let's open up each compartment and see what's inside.
Here is a list of some of the tools found on a fire engine:
- Barrel strainer - This is an attachment put on a hard suction hose when sucking water out of a lake or pond. This tool keeps debris out of the water supply.
- Nozzles - Different nozzles are needed for different situations. Fog nozzles put out more of a strong mist of water. Other nozzles direct water in a solid stream. There's also a piercing nozzle that can be used to punch through walls and spray areas that can't be reached otherwise.
- Foam inductor - This is a special nozzle used to mix water and foam.
- Haligan tool - This tool looks similar to a crowbar.
- Sheet rock puller - This tool is used to peel back the sheet rock on walls so that water can be sprayed inside the wall.
- Pike poles - These spear-like tools are about 10 to 12 feet long and are thrust into the ceiling to pull sheet rock down.
 A pike pole is one of the forceful-entry tools used by firefighters. |
- EMS equipment - Most fire engines carry a defibrillator, an emergency oxygen tank and a trauma jump kit, which includes all of the first aid equipment needed for emergencies.
- Gated Y - This special hose adapter can be attached to a line to allow two smaller lines to run off of the same water source.
- Spanner wrenches - These unique tools are used to tighten the lines to the fire engine or to a hydrant.
 Here you can see spanner wrenches and a hydrant wrench. |
- Hydrant wrench - This is the wrench used to turn the hydrant on.
- Jaws of Life - This extrication equipment is used to free victims from car or building accidents. Read How the 'Jaws of Life' Work to learn more about these hydraulic machines.
- Exhaust fan - This fan is placed in the doorway to suck smoke out of the house. Fire engines may also carry
a positive-pressure exhaust fan, which blows air through the house and out the other side.
- Salvage covers - These are used for covering furniture on a lower floor while firefighters attack a fire on a floor above.
 Fire engines used for rescue will often have the "Jaws of Life" onboard. |
As you can see, there are a lot of tools and devices stored on a fire engine, and the design of the fire engine maximizes all possible storage space.
