Fire Investigation Units

The back of an Investigations unit at PF&R station 1

Fire investigation units are small cars that are deployed after a fire to investigate the cause of it. The firefighters who operate it are trained in law enforcement an can arrest people that are suspects of intentionally starting a fire.

Trench Rescue Rigs

Trench Rescue 1 at PF&R Station 1

Technical Rescue firefighter Teams respond to any type of rescue mission including High angle, and confined space. This truck which is called a Trench Rescue carries wood used to shore up collapsed tunnels underground.

Shelves of wood inside Trench Rescue 1

Mobile Command Units

DCFD Command Unit in Washington DC

MobileCommand Trucks (MC units) are used on major incidents and disasters as a mobile base for chiefs and other officers. These trucks carry a large room behind the cab that carries an office with communication equipment and in some cases, temporary living quarters for night shift firefighters.

Heavy Squads

Heavy squads, also known as mass casualty units are special Trucks That act as a mobile hospital during large disasters involving lots of injured people. There are six of these in service in the region where I live,  TVF&R Squad 52, ( formerly Known as Squad 66) PF&R Squads 18 and 24, Clackamas Fire District #1 Squad 5, Gresham Fire Department Squad 72, and Portland Airport Fire Department Squad 881. ( See airport fire departments)

Heavy Squad 66 at TVF&R Station 66 in Beaverton

These rigs carry medical equipment as basic as bandages and as complex as life support systems. They can even set up a table and tent for surgery.

medical equipment on Heavy squad 66

Incident command units

High ranking fire fighters like marshals and executive chiefs respond to major calls and disasters in b personal  command cars.

C103 at PF&R station 1

These cars are equipped with on board computers and communication equipment and carry the chiefs air tanks and protective gear. The car above belongs to the portland Deputy chief and acts as a second response command unit to major disasters.

The Portland battalion chiefs equipment in battalion 1

Urban Search and Rescue

Some fire districts like Portland Fire and Rescue are part of state Urban Search and Rescue teams. These districts are equipped with US&R trucks. These Trucks are built like a semi truck and carry a large tractor drawn trailer which carries the same equipment as the Heavy rescue and much more. US&R trucks also carry several chainsaws and special drills with cameras inside them. Urban search and rescue teams respond to building collapses and other natural disasters. They also are equipped with a command center in the back. They are the biggest trucks used in firefighting.

some equipment on USAR 1

Urban Search and Rescue 1 at Portland fire and rescue station 1

Thank You!

I would like to take a moment to thank all of the fire fighters who have helped pull out trucks, gave tours, and educated me on every thing I know about fire trucks. These include Newberg Fire and Rescue engineer Brent for pulling out his trucks for me, TVF&R fire fighters Kevin, Don, and Johnson for giving me a ride on Truck 51, and a special thanks to Portland Airport Fire and Rescue lieutenant Tracie for spending over an hour showing me her station, teaching me, and especially for taking me on a ride on their biggest truck and teaching me how to operate the hose.