Everything about Water Tender totally explained
A
water tender is a specialized
firefighting apparatus designed for the sole purpose of transporting
water from a water source to a fire scene . Water tenders are capable of drafting water from a
stream,
lake or
hydrant.
This class of apparatus doesn't necessarily have enough pumping capacity to power large
hose lines (like a
fire engine), though it utilizes a smaller
pump to draft from bodies of water. Water tenders are used when there isn't a working
fire hydrant within reach of other fire equipment, or a water tender gives a possibility to supply the
fire engine(s) with a very rapid connection. Most water tenders are designed to carry loads of 1000
gallons (approx. 3800
litres) or more. In the US, 1000
gallons is the requirement in the NFPA standards. Some may carry up to or even upwards of 5000
gallons (more than 20 000
litres) of water - with a trailer even more .
Typically water tenders support engines and/or trucks like aerials in fires. Water tenders can be used also in
chemical accidents, to clean
highways after collisions, or pump water in
floods. Some water tenders carry fire fighting equipment and crew resembling more an engine. These water tenders are able to operate relatively independently. As the most ultimate solutions some water tenders really combine a
fire engine and water tender. This kind of unit may have seats for up to six
firefighters, a water tank of more than 3000
gallons (approx. 11 000
litres), and basic equipment for fire fighting and rescue . This kind of solution is known, for example, in
rural areas, where a
fire engine (with rescue equipment) and water tender are supported by a combined
fire engine/water tender unit in overlapping fires or
accidents. Very light water tenders are sometimes used in
wildfires. For example, a small tank of 265
gallons (1000
litres) has been carried by a cross-country vehicle to extinguish smoldering stubs on rough terrain .
A water tender carries typically also some fire fighting equipment. There are various national standards and recommendations on equipment to be carried on water tenders. Some water tenders may carry various kind of
hoses and spray nozzles utilized in forest, building, or industrial fires. In addition, tools like
axe,
flashlights, chemical portable fire extinguishers, a water extinguisher, a
SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus), a
first aid kit, adapters, and a
hydrant wrench can be required.
Some tenders carry also
foaming agents, and extinguishing powders or gases. Sometimes these materials are carried in larger amounts on very specialized, separate units like hose trucks, powder trucks, carbon dioxide extinguishing trucks etc. Specialized
Airport Crash Tenders are used at
airports to carry larger amounts of water and foaming agents.
An Australian Water Tender can range from a standard fire engine, with a larger-than-usual capacity (usually called a tanker), to a Water Tender equipped with specialty equipment such as fixed monitors and long-throw foam nozzles (usually called a Bulk Water Carrier). Several areas also own converted semi-trailer fuel tankers, capable of holding many thousands of litres of petrol, foam or other retardant. These are most often used in severe HazMat situations, such as oil refinery fires, fuel tanker accidents etc, where a large and continuous volume of water is needed.
Gallery of Water Tenders
Image:TLF 15 Daimler Benz.JPG|Old German water Tender type TLF 15 / Daimler-Benz OM 312
Image:TLF24-50.JPG|Water Tender of Hofgeismar in Germany
Image:Watertender01.jpg|A US Forest Service watertender
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