Tucson Firefighters shared video of a recent near miss that crews experienced while responding to a fire at an abandoned gas station

The fire originated in a storage room that was only accessible from the exterior of the commercial building. The initial engine company entered through the front doors to search for fire and complete a primary search. They reported a possible attic fire, so the next crew was sent to the roof to perform an attic reset.

Smoke volume began to increase and was dark brown, so the incident commander (IC) called the interior crew out of the building. The primary search was reported to have been completed. Soon after, while a crew was on the roof about to perform an attic reset, there was a backdraft/smoke explosion. The IC called a Code Red and immediately completed a PAR. All crew members in the hot zone were safe and accounted for.

The scene transitioned from an offensive attack to a defensive operation to include arial master streams, a portable Blitz monitor, and 2½-inch handlines. Overhaul of the building was deemed unsafe due to bowing walls, roof collapse, and the risk of further collapse. A tractor was called in and used to tear down the walls while coordinating with crews operating an aerial master stream and handlines.

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Type 3 and Type 6 wildland engines are the mainstay apparatus used by fire departments in battling wildland fires, whether the fires are large, small, or somewhere in between.

The types of wildland fire equipment carried on Type 3 and Type 6 wildland pumpers may differ depending on the geographic location of the fire department and the types of hazards it faces. The considerations of pumping power and capacity on the rigs will likewise depend on the specific needs of the department and the territory it covers.

What are Type 3 and Type 6 wildland engines? The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) categories information on fire apparatus into groups and provides common options often requested by fire managers. It classifies Type 1 and 2 engine types as structural engines and Types 3 through 7 as wildland engines.

For a Type 3 wildland engine, the NWCG says its minimum performance requirements are a 500-gallon water tank, a minimum pump flow of 150 gallons per minute (gpm) at 150 pounds per square inch (psi), 1,000 feet of 1½-inch hose, 500 feet of 1-inch hose, and three-person staffing at a minimum.

For a Type 6 wildland engine, NWCG guidelines say the rig should have at least a 150-gallon water tank, a pump with a minimum flow of 50 gpm at 100 psi, 300 feet of 1½-inch hose, 300 feet of 1-inch hose, and a minimum crew of two persons.

So, what are the key features that wildland firefighters should look for in wildland pumps on Type 3 and Type 6 wildland engines? The answer to that question depends on several factors, including the following:

1 The WATERAX MARK-3 Watson Edition pump has an ergonomic carriage system to reduce the risk of back injuries. (Photos courtesy of WATERAX.)

2 The WATERAX B2X-23V wildland pump is powered by a Briggs & Stratton 23-hp Vanguard engine.

3 The WATERAX BB-4 high-pressure pump can typically be found on Type 6 wildland engines.

• Whether the pump is destined to be a built-in unit on a Type 3 or Type 6 wildland engine.
• If it should be a portable pump that can be offloaded to provide a water supply from draft or to supply extended hoselines off the rig.
• If it must be light enough to be backpacked by wildland firefighters into the fire line.

With NWCG general guidelines on minimum performance in mind, there are several important considerations when spec’ing a Type 3 or Type 6 rig for wildland firefighting. Jason Field, owner of Field Commercial Repair and a wildland firefighter since 1998, says fire departments must consider the apparatus that are specific to their needs depending on where they are located in the country, the type of fire load they might face, and the terrain they will have to maneuver through. “You have to consider the weight of the rig, especially if you are running it in sandy or loose soil areas; the vehicle has to be very mobile and maneuverable; four-wheel-drive is a must;the pump must be able to draft from a static water source; and the vehicle must have pump-and-roll capabilities,” he says.

Field notes that when his company specs and builds Type 6 wildland engines, it typically includes a built-in WATERAX STRIKER™ 2 Plus two-stage high-pressure pump that can deliver 97 gpm at 100 psi (this meets the performance criteria for a Type

AMY NILE – Billings Gazette, Mont.

The city of Billings plans to complete a $500,000 renovation project at Fire Station 5 on the West End this year.

The Billings Fire Department has been awarded a $280,000 grant to help cover the cost of the work.

The department is among 100 organizations nationwide that were selected from more than 4,000 applicants to receive the money as part of Lowe’s Hometowns, a program that aims to restore community spaces across the country.

The city will provide an additional $214,000 for upgrades to Fire Station 5 on South 24th Street West, across from the West End Walmart. The money will be used to replace failing infrastructure and remodel the interior of the station, which was built in 1973.

Firefighters face significant health risks due to the demands of their work, which are exacerbated by the 6,016-square-foot station’s outdated layout, according to Billings Facilities Specialist Tricia Mae.

Firefighters respond to a variety of types of calls from the station, which houses both an engine company and a mobile response squad.

The building currently has one large, shared sleeping area. The setup causes frequent disruptions to firefighters’ rest, which increases risks of exhaustion, fatigue, cognitive impairment, mental strain and other serious health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease.

Inadequate rest also elevates rates of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Firefighters, who are exposed to trauma and chronic stress, are already statistically more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.

The station currently has only one shower, which fails to provide adequate privacy, inclusivity or efficiency, Mae said. The tiles in it are now deteriorating, which creates sanitation issues.

The station also lacks adequate decontamination facilities, which contributes to increased exposure to harmful toxins and raises long-term cancer risks.

The upgrades will include three separate bedrooms to help provide uninterrupted rest for non-responding crew members. The single shower space will be replaced with three private restrooms.

The work will also improve decontamination facilities, including a new shower bank to allow crews faster access to toxin removal.

The project is expected to be complete in mid-November.

Mae said the upgrades will help improve health and working conditions for firefighters and ensure a more effective emergency response system that the community can rely on.

© 2025 the Billings Gazette (Billings, Mont.). Visit www.billingsgazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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