The United States Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service provides fire suppression services to all administered lands as well as mutual aid to State and Local agencies.
The USFS maintains a fleet of around 900 engines and 210 pieces of heavy equipment, with 273 Type 3 engines in the State of California alone. Overall, roughly 64% of the Forest Service fleet of engines resides in California.
USFS Apparatus Models[]
History[]
In the 1950's, the USFS, began categorizing it's fire apparatus under the Model 1, 2, and 3 designations, all of which featured slip-on skid units. The present 3 digit model numbering system was adopted in 2010, which the first type indicating the appratus type as defined by the NFPA, the second digit denoting drivetrain, and the third digit denoting the water tank capacity in hundreds of gallons.
| Model | Description | Status | Pump | Aux. Pump | Tank | Foam | Config | GVWR (lbs.) | Crew | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Type 7 Engine | In use
Out of production |
- | 85 | 75 | - | 4x2 | 2 | Introduced as a light slip-on engine in the 1960's, repurposed into patrol & prevention assignments in the late 1990's. | |
| 22 | Type 2 Tactical Water Tender | In use Out of production |
350 | - | 1500 | - | 4x2 | 37,000 | 2 | |
| 24 | Type 2 Tactical Water Tender | In use Out of production |
350 | - | 1500 | - | 4x4 | 37,000 | 2 | |
| 42 | Type 6 Engine | Out of use
Out of production |
- | 95 | 285 | - | 4x2 | 16,000 | 3 | 2-door chassis, designed to cut costs by classifying as a Type 6, reducing necessary staffing. |
| 46 | Type 3 Engine | In use
Out of production |
- | 250 | 600 | - | 4x2 | |||
| 50 | Type 6 Engine | Out of use
Out of production |
- | 65 | 300 | - | 4x2 | 16,000 | 5 | |
| 51 | Type 6 Engine | In use
Out of production |
- | 95 | 300 | - | 4x4 | 26,000 | 5 | |
| 52 | Type 4 Engine | In use
Out of production |
- | 85 | 750 | - | 4x2 | 2 | ||
| Type 6 Engine | - | 85 | 250 | - | 4x4 | 2 | ||||
| 56 | Type 6 Engine | Out of use
Out of production |
- | 250 | 300 | - | 4x2 | 4,900 | 5 | Introduced in 1957. |
| 58 | Type 6 Engine | Out of use
Out of production |
260 | - | 300 | - | 4x2 | 4,900 | 5 | |
| 60 | Type 3 Engine | Out of use
Out of production |
- | 300 | 500 | - | 4x2 | 5 | 4-door chassis | |
| 61 | Type 3 Engine | Out of use
Out of production |
- | 300 | 500 | - | 4x2 | 5 | 2-door chassis, enclosed crew compartment built into pumper body. | |
| 62A | Type 3 Engine | Out of production | - | 400 | 500 | - | 4x4 | 5 | 2 stage pump, larger crew compartment than a Model 61. | |
| 62B | Type 3 Engine | Out of production | - | 400 | 500 | - | 4x4 | 5 | 4-door chassis, enclosed hose bed & top compartments. | |
| 62C | Type 3 Engine | Out of production | - | 400 | 500 | - | 4x4 | 5 | 4-door chassis, enclosed hose bed. Produced 2001-02. | |
| 62D | Type 3 Engine | In use
Out of production |
- | 400 | 500 | - | 4x4 | 5 | Similar to a Model 62C, 16" longer chassis. Discontinued 2010. | |
| 326 | Type 3 Engine | In use In production |
300 | - | 600 | 25 | 4x2 | 33,000 | 5 | |
| 346 | Type 3 Engine | In use In production |
300 | - | 600 | 25 | 4x4 | 37,000 | 5 | |
| 428 | Type 4 Engine | In use In production |
115 | - | 800 | 25 | 4x2 | 37,000 | 5 | |
| 448 | Type 4 Engine | In use In production |
115 | - | 800 | 25 | 4x4 | 37,000 | 5 | |
| 643P | Type 6 Engine Platform body |
In use In production |
90 | 110 | 300 | 12 | 4x4 | 19,500 (Diesel) 19,000 (Gasoline) |
2-3 | |
| 643U | Type 6 Engine Utility body |
In use In production |
90 | 110 | 300 | 12 | 4x4 | 19,500 (Diesel) 19,000 (Gasoline) |
2-3 |
See also[]
References[]
USFS Fire Engine Models. Retrieved Dec. 16, 2023.