Take a drive with me in one of our fire department water tankers and tour our department rigs 

That’s really interesting! I learned from taking cruise ship tourists on trail tours that there are other places with the setup we have. Another unusual situation we have out north of town here is that we have no city septic or water service. We use septic tanks on our properties and catch water off our roofs in big cisterns for household use. I’ve heard that other places around the world do the same.

We only have four full-time guys in our department, so we can be in that situation at first, but the volunteer firefighters are so eager, they usually come in pretty fast. We also have an automatic mutual aid tone sent out for any structure fire across the borough, so we’ll also get rigs, manpower and more water from the other two departments within a half hour. Our city department is much larger than ours, and has a new big tower truck that’s awesome for reaching really difficult spots. Pretty cool for your area to have an effective department with all volunteers!

@@KetchikanKelly Mostly the same hear a residential box is 4 or 5 fire departments. Our closest mutual aid is 30 minutes also travel time is maybe 15 minutes but volunteer so takes time for the truck to hit the road.

@@rogerdehaven5603 I haven't heard the term "residential box" before -- is that akin to a service area? Our closest mutual aid is about 15 minutes and the second is close to yours -- even slower in tourist season when the downtown area gets clogged with tens of thousands of cruise passengers and tour vehicles. We're lucky to have at least a few full-timers who can hit the road in mere minutes, for sure!

Thank you! Hope you warm up soon over there! Southeast Alaska is likely balmy compared to your neck of the woods!

Awesome! Driving the tankers around is so fun!

@@KetchikanKelly A response video in the tanker would be really cool!

@@jdog_rblx7449 I'd love to do that ... already thinking of what I could do better, and where I could drive to give a fresh tour! Thanks!

Yes, and we do use it that way sometimes. For bigger fires, this tanker is used to pull water out of the drop tanks, then to send the water to the engine, which the attack lines are hooked to. Our other two tankers do not have the pumper gear

Thank you so much!!!! You made my day! my week! my year! :)

Thank you SO much! I have so many ideas for more, and for improvements!

Thank you!!! Really means a lot to this beginner ❤️

That's a great idea! I'd love to do it with the guy who was really central in planning the specs on it to make sure it's done right. Thank you for the idea!

In Alaska we have our own language haha apparently some other places in the states (and apparently Australia too!) call them tankers too, according to some of the commenters. We don’t really have forest fires here in the rainforest, fortunately!

@@KetchikanKelly Ask a Wildland firefighter. It’s an ongoing feud between structure fire and Wildland fire. When it comes to equipment typing, your tanker will be called a tender on an incident. Tankers have wings. Tenders have wheels.

Amen!!!

Yes! I've heard fellow fire department members say that when we're down south in Washington or Oregon, that we have to call them a tender, or people will think we're talking about firefighting aircraft! Now I know us Alaskans have something in common with the East Coasters ... Thanks for the info!

Tender is the politically correct term around here as well where there are no aircraft tankers at all! In the US there are like 100 fire department truck Tankers for every 3 aircraft ones...

😂 haha thank you!

ketchikan alaska area

Yes, Ketchikan, Alaska -- North Tongass Volunteer Fire Department is one of the town's three departments. Ketchikan is a small town on an island in Southeast Alaska.

😂

Nah euro helmets look awesome

:D

How does the water get to the fire?

@@daveyb1908 The engine always deploys first or simultaneously with Tanker 8, so the crew attaches a hose to the outlet port on the tanker and connect it to the engine, allowing the tanker to serve as a nurse rig

@@KetchikanKelly, I was replying to the comment about fighting fire with water, not hydrants. A semi-retired 50+year firefighter, I'm familiar with Rural Water Supply. Sorry if I come across a little snarky, I am actually trying for a friendly discussion.

@@daveyb1908 haha thank you for the explanation - I did think you were being funny, which I appreciate too 😄 so glad you took time to stop by!

If it has an electronic siren your fine, but yeah true a good majority of the ones in my area have Q2B’s.

@@Mr.Speedcat there slow and often only have 1 crew member so its alot easier using an electronic siren and a horn then all 3 things, depending on how the department sets up the q2b toggle

I had to google q siren to hear what it's like! I believe the foot-operated air horn was disconnected because people kept accidentally stepping on it when maneuvering in tight spaces LOL (yeah, I did it many times when I first started)

It happens! I almost blew the horn trying to get into the seat of a new truck while at a push in ceremony.. But luckily I was on the steps and got a look inside and hopped out.

@@Mr.Speedcat haha! Stepping on the horn always happens at the worst place/time!