Departments in urban locations are increasingly having to deal with wildfire responses. Whether it be due to climate change, larger populations moving into interface areas, or a combination of both, one thing is clear: the problem is only likely to become worse in the coming years.
The increase in incidents brings with it new challenges for departments, not only in tactical considerations but in having the right equipment to adequately respond.
Equipment-wise, one option for departments based in WUI areas is Pierce’s latest apparatus, a Type 1 wildland-urban interface firefighting vehicle that incorporates the patented Pierce Ultimate Configuration (PUC) technology.
“We’ve got a lot of strong interest in the product because it’s really targeted for those wildland markets where short wheelbases are so important,” said Mike Moore, vice president of business development at Pierce.
“In the past, while short wheelbases have always been important in these areas, you’ve had to make some pretty significant compromises to achieve that in terms of cab space and compartment space.”
Its shorter wheelbase — together with pump-and-roll capability and increased storage space — creates flexibility to respond not only to wildfires and natural disasters, but traditional structural fires, too, according to designers.
“The PUC has always been a product that we’ve looked at for the wildland market, but we were never really able to quite get there with the wheelbase in the past until now,” Moore said.
“Because of the design of the PUC, we are able to include all of these features. It eliminates a lot of the compromises that have had to be made before, so it’s really well suited for those markets.
“But while it’s a shorter body than standard PUCs, it’s still longer than most typical pumpers out there.”
The wheelbase in the apparatus is as short as 162-inches, and a high chassis angle of approach and departure aims to provide improved maneuverability. In addition, all-wheel drive helps off-road performance, while 200 cubic feet of storage space should offer ample room for gear and tools.
Pierce’s products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. For more information on the PUCs, visit their website.