The Difference Between Municipal Fire Trucks and Airport Fire Trucks

Another note about fire trucks. There has been a large private equity roll up of fire truck manufacturers resulting in longer lead times and much higher prices. [1]<p>I was surprised when I specifically checked on Pierce that they are owned by Oshkosh and publicly traded. [2][3]<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nytimes.com&#x2F;2025&#x2F;02&#x2F;17&#x2F;us&#x2F;fire-engines-shortage-private-equity.html" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nytimes.com&#x2F;2025&#x2F;02&#x2F;17&#x2F;us&#x2F;fire-engines-shortage-...</a><p>[2] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Pierce_Manufacturing" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Pierce_Manufacturing</a><p>[3] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Oshkosh_Corporation" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Oshkosh_Corporation</a>

Somewhat related, Not Just Bikes &#x2F; Jason Slaughter talked about how large fire trucks create the need for wide roads, which enables normal car drivers to go at dangerously high speeds. <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=j2dHFC31VtQ" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=j2dHFC31VtQ</a> (27m24s) [2024-08-11]

CAL FIRE has their own specialized fire trucks.[1] California has a huge number of wildfires, all over a big state.[2] CAL FIRE has about 3,000 pieces of equipment.<p>Current CAL FIRE trucks are 4 wheel drive off-road heavy trucks. They&#x27;re shorter than municipal or airport trucks, for dirt roads with tight turns. They use a 500 gallon tank with a foam system.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.fire.ca.gov&#x2F;what-we-do&#x2F;fire-protection&#x2F;mobile-equipment" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.fire.ca.gov&#x2F;what-we-do&#x2F;fire-protection&#x2F;mobile-eq...</a><p>[2] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.fire.ca.gov&#x2F;incidents" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.fire.ca.gov&#x2F;incidents</a>

In the US, Airport fire operations have their own NFPA Standard<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nfpa.org&#x2F;codes-and-standards&#x2F;nfpa-440-standard-development&#x2F;440" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nfpa.org&#x2F;codes-and-standards&#x2F;nfpa-440-standard-d...</a><p>And their own standard for fire fighter qualification<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nfpa.org&#x2F;codes-and-standards&#x2F;nfpa-1003-standard-development&#x2F;1003" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nfpa.org&#x2F;codes-and-standards&#x2F;nfpa-1003-standard-...</a>

If you ever find yourself visiting Phoenix, and there’s 4+ hours open in your itinerary, I strongly recommend the Hall of Flame Fire Museum!<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;maps.app.goo.gl&#x2F;athmHCH2AG4sWk8F6" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;maps.app.goo.gl&#x2F;athmHCH2AG4sWk8F6</a><p>Among their exhibits is a 300-year-old wagon, and basically this is a gigantic warehouse and boneyard for old fire trucks and equipment which has been lovingly restored to pristine conditions.<p>There are plenty of memorials for deceased firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives, and there&#x27;s special memorial for the Hot Shots who perished in Yarnell several years back.

I randomly bought a fire truck a few months ago. I was looking for something to convert into a camper van, and found my truck: (A) low mileage, compared to other trucks because of the usage. Ambulances etc. are super high mileage. (B) they have excellent maintenance, so it’s ship shape (C) low comparable purchase cost due to tiny resale market.<p>I’m loving it. Kids love it. Community loves it. Wife tolerates it. Converted it into a camper and party truck!

Back in the late &#x27;70s my dad bought a retired 1942 pumper fire truck from the city. Back then it was sealed bids submitting to the city. He was the only one who bid on it.<p>I assume today you could buy an airport one from a government auction site.

I always love how futuristic they look: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;8weVJBGDpHI?si=mfIkPEgm44fSLQcc" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;8weVJBGDpHI?si=mfIkPEgm44fSLQcc</a><p>Also here halfway through it: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;9z1qetAaiBA?si=j78gg2HmUg-jCnTS" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;9z1qetAaiBA?si=j78gg2HmUg-jCnTS</a>

The picture that shows the difference in visibility is a bit misleading due to a very different perspective?<p>I&#x27;m assuming the visibility difference is still quite different, but it feels like one of the pictures is the perspective of someone in the back seat, as it were.

The airport truck is gonna be operated in a different regulatory setting under different incentives than the municipal truck. That counts for something.