A house fire is reported. A few minutes later, several fire engines, ladder apparatus and other emergency vehicles may be heading toward the same address.
It's reasonable to wonder: Why does one fire need so many fire trucks?
The answer is that fire apparatus brings equipment, but more importantly, it brings firefighters — and safely handling a structure fire requires a lot of both.
A Structure Fire Requires Many Jobs at the Same Time
Fighting a structure fire involves much more than putting water on visible flames.
Depending on conditions, firefighters may need to:
Search the building for occupants
Advance hose lines to the fire
Establish a reliable water supply
Force entry through locked doors
Place ground ladders
Ventilate smoke and heat
Check for fire spreading into walls, ceilings and attics
Protect neighboring buildings
Control utilities
Rescue trapped occupants
Protect firefighters operating inside
Perform overhaul after the fire is controlled
Many of those jobs need to happen at approximately the same time.
One engine crew can't safely accomplish all of them alone.
Different Fire Apparatus Have Different Jobs
Although people commonly refer to every large red emergency vehicle as a "fire truck," fire apparatus can be designed for different purposes.
Engines
Fire engines are primarily built around fire suppression and water delivery. They carry pumps, hose, water and firefighting equipment.
Ladder Apparatus
Ladder apparatus provides ground ladders or aerial equipment and carries tools used for access, ventilation and other fireground tasks.
Rescue Apparatus
Rescue apparatus may carry specialized equipment for vehicle extrication and other rescue operations.
Why Not Wait to See How Bad the Fire Is?
Because fire conditions can change rapidly.
A call originally reported as smoke inside a home could turn out to be a significant structure fire. An automatic fire alarm could turn out to be an actual fire. A vehicle crash could involve someone trapped inside.
Getting appropriate resources moving early means they're already responding if they're needed.
If firefighters determine some of those resources aren't necessary, they can be returned to service.
Some Firefighters Are Assigned to Protect Other Firefighters
Structural firefighting is dangerous work.
When crews operate inside a burning building, additional personnel are needed to support those operations and be prepared if a firefighter becomes trapped, lost or injured.
That means a firefighter you see outside may have a specific safety assignment.
Not every firefighter at a fire scene should be holding a hose line.
Why Are Fire Trucks From Different Companies There?
Neighboring fire companies routinely work together through a system known as mutual aid.
An emergency may require more firefighters or specialized apparatus than a single company has immediately available.
In Bristol Township, that means residents may see apparatus from multiple fire companies working together at the same incident.
Read Who Responds to Fire Emergencies in Bristol Township? to learn more about how local fire companies work together.
How Does the Response Begin?
It starts with a 911 call.
Bucks County Emergency Communications gathers information about the location and type of emergency and dispatches the appropriate emergency resources.
Our article What Happens After You Call 911 in Bucks County? explains what happens between making that call and seeing emergency vehicles arrive.
More Fire Trucks Doesn't Always Mean a Bigger Fire
Don't judge the severity of an emergency solely by the number of vehicles present.
The initial response is based on the information available when the emergency is reported and the resources that could reasonably be required.
It's better to have firefighters and equipment responding and determine they're not needed than to discover too late that additional resources should have been requested earlier.
Give Firefighters Room to Work
If you encounter a fire scene:
Give emergency vehicles plenty of room.
Never drive over fire hose.
Don't block apparatus or fire hydrants.
Stay clear of working firefighters.
Follow instructions from emergency personnel.
Every apparatus and firefighter on the scene has a purpose.
What may look like a lot of fire trucks is actually a coordinated system designed to get the people and equipment needed for an emergency to the scene as quickly and safely as possible.