East Granby Fire DEPARTMENT
APPARATUS
The East Granby Volunteer Fire Department apparatus fleet consists of three engines, one aerial, two rescues, one tanker, a brush unit, one utility vehicle, one equipment trailer and a Chief’s vehicle. Each apparatus has a regular fire station assignment, but may be moved from one station to another.
APPARATUS FUNCTIONS
The primary function of an engine, also known as a pumper, is to attack a fire or protect exposures through the use of its many hoses or deck gun, and to lay hose for the establishment of a water supply. When hydrants aren’t available, engines may be required to supply water by drafting (the process of lifting water to an engine from a static source), or by shuttling water to the scene.
An engine company may be required to perform other duties such as forcible entry, search and rescue, ventilation, and salvage and overhaul. Therefore, engine companies carry many tools in addition to just hose such as a standard compliment of ground and roof ladders, various extinguishers, and tools to conduct forcible entry, salvage and overhaul.
Aerial apparatus, also called trucks, provide elevation and reach to conduct operations from. This could mean ventilating a roof, attacking a chimney fire, or providing a means for entry/egress to the upper levels of a structure including rescue. East Granby’s aerial apparatus also has a piped waterway providing elevated fire streams for direct fire attack or exposure protection.
In addition to an aerial device, these companies carry a generous assortment of roof and ground ladders to provide upper-level access. You will also find many of the same tools as found on the engines, along with cut-off saws and chainsaws.
The rescue apparatus carries specialized equipment for rescue and other tasks. Hydraulic, pneumatic and electrically powered tools, as well as specialized hand tools for vehicle extrications are carried on the rescues, as is cribbing, air bags and other devices for stabilizing vehicles and other objects. Life-safety rope, rigging hardware, baskets and other gear for high-angle, graded-slope rescue and shored based water rescue are also stored here.
The rescue companies can also be tasked with the same other assignments as previously mentioned. Therefore, you will find many of the same hand tools, along with thermal imagers and gas-powered saws, just to name a few.
