Los Angeles County FD Unique New Water Tender

[x635 4,066]

Post made on the LA County Fire Dept Div 1 Facebook page:

Our New Water Tender, the Peterbilt 320

Comments such as “ugly,” “cracker box,” “weapon,” “Frankentender” have been used to describe the newest addition to the Department’s fire suppression arsenal. Like it or hate it, this KME-manufactured water tender has captured the attention of fire departments across the globe.

Although nothing too special for an all-wheel drive water tender from the pump panel back, it is anything but typical as you move forward.

The concept for this vehicle came while trying to resolve the challenges of the ever increasing size of commercial trucks.

Wheelbases (the distance between the front and rear axles) continue to increase and the demands of doing more with less are constant challenges to overcome whenever developing specifications for new emergency vehicles and apparatus.

And compound that with having the ability to support wildland fire suppression operations and traverse unpaved motorways with tight turns, switchbacks and steep hills, the challenges can sometimes appear overwhelming. So the Fleet Services Division had a few options.

We could just do what everyone else does and deal with it; we could back off on our requirements and expectations, or we can take a step back and attack the challenges head on. So when considering maneuverability, although there are several factors, wheelbase is everything.

Simply put, the shorter the wheelbase, the sharper the turning ability.

Taking all of this into consideration, enter the Peterbilt 320, which is a “cab forward” design, meaning the cab sits in front of the front wheels. Although this design is most commonly associated with your local refuse collection truck, after much study and testing it was determined to be the logical solution to the problem.

The “Pete 320″ provides a wheelbase nearly 24 inches shorter, with room to spare, than “conventional cab” water tenders with similar capacity. So this tender still carries 2,500 gallons of water and pumps over 500 gallons per minute to multiple sprayers and discharges.

But the shorter overall length and additional space on the truck frame not taken up by the conventional cab provided for additional compartments, two 300-foot hose reels and a front bumper extension with a remotely operated 200 GPM turret that gives this tender abilities unmatched by any other tender in its class.

Continuing with the Department adopted stepped frame chassis and an actual live fire testing of the cab performed with the assistance of Rush Truck Centers, Del Valle Training and the United States Forest Service, firefighter safety is considered to be excellent.

In the end, this is a knock-down/mop-up machine that packs a punch all by itself but can shuttle water, equipment and supplies to the front line keeping suppression operations flowing.

[FD7807 59]

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Edited January 30, 2015 by FD7807

[BFD389RET 112]

2500 gallons sitting On the rears like that and 6 x 6 will be helpfull with shortened wheel bass, Care In And Down hill Backing/Manuevers could be dangerous... mainly in the hills for which its Usage is intended... the oplitical tank low center of gravity, and various discharge options Seems Like its something that should work well for them... Consider Most departments in southern Cally have Bulldozers and Flatbeds on They're rosters...

Edited January 31, 2015 by BFD389RET