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Tinker gains new fire truck

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Tinker Fire Department welcomed a new addition May 15. The unit received a high-pressure system rapid-intervention vehicle, which will replace the P-19 crash truck. Crews spent the better part of the week learning the ins and outs of the new vehicle.

Produced by Pierce Manufacturing and built on a 2011 Ford frame, the vehicle was designed by the Air Force to dispense water or class "B" foam-water mixture, which will blanket and suffocate a fuel fire, at a high pressure. Armed with a front bumper "gun" that shoots 60 gallons per minute and two booster lines that shoot 15 gallons per minute, officials said the new truck is a beneficial addition to the arsenal.

"Tinker Fire and Emergency Services is excited to receive the new concept vehicle and looks forward to adding it to our emergency response capability," said Terry Ford, Tinker Fire and Emergency Services chief.

While crash trucks traditionally hold at least 1,000 more gallons of water than the RIV's 400-gallon capacity, the rapid-intervention vehicle dispenses its contents at 1,100 pounds-per-square inch. A crash truck dispenses water at 125 psi. The truck holds 56 gallons of foam.

"The vehicle is based on new technology using high pressure/low volume to achieve the same results as a much larger vehicle," Chief Ford said.

The technology, which was developed and tested by Air Force Research Laboratory officials, enables the vehicle to discharge a mixture of water and firefighting foam at 1,350 psi. The increased pressure makes the vehicle three to three-and-a-half times more effective than conventional firefighting vehicles and increases the amount of time a vehicle can remain at the scene without having to be resupplied.

If a 1,000-gallon vehicle discharging 1,000 gallons per minute yields one minute of firefighting capability at the scene, this RIV with its high pressure technology, and its same 1,000-gallon capacity now equates to 3,500 gallons of firefighting capability, Chief Ford said.

"It's not like anything we have; this is a new capability," said Michael Tuley, Tinker Fire and Emergency Services assistant chief of Training, who said there are roughly 45 other RIVs at other Air Force bases.

"I'm pretty excited to be increasing the fleet with a more reliable and newer vehicle," said Lt. Tom Burgess, Tinker Fire and Emergency Services driver and operator. "It's very user friendly, labeled well and more identifiable, which is easier for everyone."
Tinker Firefighter John Lewis agreed.

"Our job is so versatile, we need different tools and this is another one," he said. "We will utilize it in some aspect."

The vehicle is planned to be in full service by today.