Almost all fire departments have wildland areas in their jurisdictions. For many departments, these areas are growing wildland-urban interface zones resulting from the expansion of homes into the surrounding areas of vegetation. For others, the areas are large parks, nature preserves or dedicated open spaces within the city limits. Hiking paths on former railroad right of ways and riverwalk areas present wildland problems because of their limited access.

No matter what the wildland hazard, municipal departments need to be able to respond to fires in these areas quickly. Not only do they pose a threat to the surrounding structures and other facilities within the area, but they also can destroy valuable vegetation, wildlife habitat and recreational areas that have been set aside for the enjoyment and benefit of the public.

Cities may find themselves trying to fight wildland fires with structure engines. Although these engines work well for defensive operations on the perimeter, they usually lack the maneuverability, personnel and equipment to reach wildland fires quickly and attack them effectively.

To deal with this problem, some municipal departments have purchased specially designed wildland fire apparatus, which generally are more compact and maneuverable than full-size engines and can be operated with fewer personnel. In some cases, they can effectively handle both structure and vegetation fires to perform two functions for the price of one apparatus.

More with less

Municipal departments choose many different types and sizes of wildland apparatus depending on the terrain, vegetation, available personnel, tactics, budget and other factors. One of the key features of all municipal wildland apparatus is their ability to do more with less.

Unlike some wildland agency engines that respond with crews of up to five personnel, most municipal engines are staffed with smaller crews of only three or four. In some cases, the crew may be split even further to staff both a structure engine and a brush engine. To compensate for the reduction in personnel, municipal wildland engines usually are equipped with a variety of components designed to improve their firefighting capabilities.

Class A and compressed-air foams commonly are specified to improve the effectiveness of the available water supply. Compressed-air foam is especially useful to coat and protect threatened structures with a blanket of foam during large-scale wildland fires. Depending on the foam consistency and the weather conditions, compressed-air foam can be applied several hours before the firefront arrives to give firefighters time to coat several structures and then withdraw to a safer location.

Other features of municipal wildland apparatus often include low-mounted preconnected hoses that let firefighters rapidly deploy and repack attack lines for structure protection during quickly shifting interface fires. Remote-control monitors can be used with minimally staffed crews to hit fires as the apparatus moves or to go into operation quickly as the apparatus pulls up to a structure.

The concept of doing more with less also applies to the configuration of the apparatus. Most municipal wildland rigs have compact bodies, short wheelbases, and high angles of approach and departure to let them maneuver through areas where larger apparatus can't go. Brush guards and heavy front bumpers allow them to push through low vegetation to reach fires in areas that are inaccessible by road.

To give engines the flexibility to handle several types of fires, some are equipped with high-capacity main pumps that meet NFPA and ISO requirements for structure fires, plus low-volume engine-driven auxiliary pumps to provide mobile attacks on wildland fires. These dual-function apparatus also carry a full complement of ground ladders, supply hose and other equipment.

Concern for safety

Apparatus that operate in wildland environments have special safety requirements, whether they are fighting fires in the middle of a forest or the middle of a city. These requirements are different from those that apply to structure apparatus and require different considerations and specifications.

NFPA 1906, Wildland Fire Apparatus, sets tougher requirements for side slope stability, ground clearance, and the angles of approach and departure on apparatus that are primarily designed to fight wildland fires. These requirements are intended to make sure wildland apparatus can maneuver across uneven terrain without endangering the crew. The standard also requires that all personnel ride inside a fully enclosed personnel area and that each riding position be equipped with a seat and approved seatbelt. Riding anywhere on the outside of the apparatus doesn't comply.

Screens on the engine air inlet also are required to prevent embers from being drawn into the air cleaner and igniting the paper filter element. These screens also are required on municipal structure pumpers, but many do not have them. The openings need to be much smaller than those of most standard perforated metal inlets, and departments may have to request them as an option.

Finally, some municipal wildland apparatus are equipped with heat-resistant curtains or folding shields that can be pulled across the cab windows to protect the crew if the apparatus is caught in a sudden burnover. In most cases, seeking protection inside the cab is better and faster than trying to deploy individual fire shelters or driving blindly through thick smoke to escape.