In many areas, private horse-team owners were relied upon to pull these pumpers when the fire bell was rung. The early 1900s saw the popularization of gasoline engine and chain driven fire pumper. Today, fire pumpers are technological marvels. Many are built on custom truck platforms, but they are upgraded to meet the specifications of the fire departments they are being built for. These are built for high durability, with upgraded suspension, tires, brakes, transmission, alternator, and cooling systems. The speed limiter is typically removed, and adjustments are made to accommodate the long idling periods ("History of the Fire Engine").
The electronics are also typically custom designed. These include visual and audible warnings. They also often include a two-way radio that allows them to maintain communication with dispatch, with modern systems based on GSM systems, like TETRA. The fire pumper...
Some pumpers even have closed-circuit television (CCTV) that records the activity around the truck while it is out on a call ("History of the Fire Engine").
Works Cited
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Gilbert, D. "History of Fire Hose
." Crown Shop Talk. n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2010. .
"History of the Fire Engine." History of Firefighting. n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. .
"The History of Fire Fighting." The Toads Favorite Fire Pads. 26 July 2006. Web. 18 Nov. 2010. .
"History of Firefighting Vehicles." Amazing Planet. 5 Feb. 2010. Web. 18 Nov. 2010. .
"Single-Stage vs. Multiple-Stage Fire Punps." L.A. County Firefighters. n, d. Web. 18 Nov. 2010. .
