Fire service historian and author

Roger Mardon

 

 

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Many enthusiasts and professional firefighters adhere to the view that Britain's firefighting vehicles are properly called fire appliances. They may be right but, in common with many people I know who build them and most members of the public, I believe fire engines is a perfectly acceptable term. Indeed, 'engins' for the extinguishing of fires were built long before the first 'appliance' rolled off the production line. In America an engine is a pump or pumper but in the UK a fire engine is a generic term for any emergency vehicle operated by the fire service.

 

For many years the British fire service used standard terminology and abbreviations to identify appliances. Now some brigades seem in competition to find the longest name to denote appliances with similar capabilities. For example, a water tender ladder with rescue equipment can be a rescue water tender ladder (R/WrL), a water tender ladder rescue (WrL/R), a water tender ladder/emergency tender (WrL/ET), or a even fire and rescue tender (FRT), according to where you are. By the way, an FRT is not the same thing as an FRU which is a London Fire Brigade fire rescue unit, called a rescue tender just about everywhere else. Confusing, isn't it?

 

I will try and guide you through the maze.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After World War 2 the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council's Joint Committee on Design and Development of Appliances and Equipment issued specifications for different types of fire appliance - the JCDD specifications. These were updated as needs and technology advanced. They are now defunct but still provide a clue to the nature of some appliances.

 

The following list indicates the main features of  each type of appliance now or previously in use, drawing on the JCDD specifications as appropriate. There will still be local variations but anything I have omitted can probably be worked out with a little imagination.

 

You will see that some of the vehicles we call fire engines are not used for fighting fires at all. This is because the fire service has long been equipped, and therefore recognised, as the main rescue service, even though it was not until 2004 that Parliament imposed a statutory duty on the service to respond to such things as road accidents. And unless you live in Cleveland or London you now have a fire and rescue service not a fire brigade.

 

Preparation of the list is not an exact science and all additions will be welcome.

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Appliance Type

Abbreviation

Description

Accident rescue unit/vehicle

 

ARU, ARV

Vehicle equipped for rescuing people trapped in road traffic accidents.

Aerial appliance

 

Generic term for any appliance such as a turntable ladder, hydraulic platform or aerial ladder platform.

Aerial ladder

 

American term for a turntable ladder.

Aerial ladder platform

ALP

Appliance with extending booms and ladder running alongside, with a rescue cage at the head, such as a Bronto Skylift.

Aerial rescue pump

ARP

A pumping appliance fitted with an aerial platform such as the Magirus Multistar or Vema. The modern equivalent of the pump hydraulic platform.

Airport rescue and firefighting vehicle

ARFFV

Modern term originating in America for an airport crash tender.

All-terrain vehicle

ATV

A light multi-wheel-drive or tracked vehicle for crossing rough ground, such as the Crayford Argocat or Scot-Trak.

Ambulance

Amb

 

Animal rescue unit

ARU

Appliance, usually 4-wheel-drive, equipped for rescuing large animals from precarious situations.

Auxiliary towing vehicle

ATV

AFS/NFS appliance introduced in 1941 to tow trailer pumps. There is no evidence to suggest this was known as the ATV until after the war.

Bikini unit

E/TWU

Popular name for the AFS transportable water unit.

Breakdown lorry

BL

Recovery vehicle sometimes equipped with heavy rescue equipment for emergency response.

Breathing apparatus control van

BACV

Vehicle with equipment to provide BA control.

Breathing apparatus support unit/vehicle

BASU, BASV

Vehicle carrying spare BA cylinders and equipped to clean and recharge BA sets at the scene of an incident.

Breathing apparatus tender

BAT

Same as a breathing apparatus support unit. The first pumps in London to carry BA were called BA tenders.

Bridging parts carrier

E/BrC

AFS appliance carrying 6-inch piping and fittings to build six water pipeline bridges over a road.

Bulk foam carrier/unit

BFC, BFU

Longer name for a foam carrier.

Bulk water carrier

BWrC, BWC

Longer name for a water carrier.

Canteen van

CaV

Vehicle equipped to provide hot food and drink to crews at protracted incidents.

Chemical incident unit

CIU

Appliance equipped for dealing with chemical spillages etc.

Cliff rescue unit

CRU

See also line rescue unit and rope rescue rescue unit.

Combined aerial rescue pump

CARP

Four word name for an aerial rescue pump.

Combined ladder platform

CLP

Another name for an aerial ladder platform.

Command car

E/CmdCar

AFS light 4-wheel-drive vehicle used as staff car, reconnaissance vehicle or towing vehicle for field telephone trailer.

Command support unit/vehicle

CSU, CSV

Usually a smaller version of a command unit, often providing the initial command and control facility at an escalating incident.

Command unit

CU

Another name for a control unit.

Communication unit (stores and service van)

E/CommsS

AFS vehicle fitted to maintain and carry spare parts for radio equipment.

Communications unit layer (line layer)

E/CommsL

AFS 2-wheeled trailer equipped to lay cable and provide field telephone system. Usually towed by a command car.

Compact water tender ladder

C/WrL

A smaller than standard water tender ladder. At least one brigade has/had two sizes of vehicle with an identical equipment inventory.

Control unit

CU

Mobile HQ and communications centre for the officer in charge of a large fire or incident.

Control unit

E/CU

AFS control unit.

Crash tender

CrT

Appliance specially equipped to deal with aircraft crashes and fires in aircraft.

Dam lorry

 

Improvised wartime appliance comprising a lorry carrying a water container (dam) generally of 500 or 1,000 gallons. See also mobile dam unit.

Damage control unit

DCU

Another name for a salvage tender.

Damage limitation unit

DLU

Another name for a salvage tender.

Decontamination unit

DCU, DecU, DeconU

Appliance equipped to decontaminate personnel engaged in chemical incidents.

Deluge set trailer

DST

Applicable to Scotland.

Detection, identification and monitoring unit

DIM

New Dimension appliance equipped to detect, identify and monitor hazardous materials at an incident.

Disrobe module

MDD

A New Dimension appliance with equipment to replenish incident response units.

Driver training vehicle/lorry

DTV, DTL

 

Dual purpose appliance

DP

Appliance equipped to run as a pump escape or a pump, or as a pump ladder or a pump.

Emergency catering unit

ECU

Long name for a canteen van.

Emergency pump

E/P

AFS rear-wheel-drive or 4-wheel-drive pump popularly known as a Green Goddess.

Emergency rescue tender

ERT

Long name for an emergency tender.

Emergency salvage tender

EST

Appliance combining the functions of an emergency tender and a salvage tender.

Emergency tender

ET

Appliance carrying special firefighting, rescue and other equipment not available on a standard fire engine. Would have carried breathing apparatus before this was available on pumping appliances. Type-A ETs were designed for larger towns and cities and had a built-in generator. Type-B ETs were intended for smaller towns and did not have a built-in generator. Term not now in general use.

Enhanced command support vehicle

ECSV

New Dimension appliance for command and control.

Escape

 

Extending ladder mounted on a wheeled carriage, originally hand-pushed, later horse-drawn and finally vehicle mounted. The last vehicle mounted escapes were taken out of use in 1994.

Escape carrying unit

ECU

Wartime appliance equipped with 130-gal (approx) water tank and hose-reel carrying a wheeled escape. Designed to tow a trailer pump but later appliances were fitted with a front-mounted pump.

Escape tender

 

Pre-war appliance equipped with 40- or 60-gal water tank and hose-reel, but no main pump, carrying a wheeled escape.

Escape van

 

Obsolete appliance with no pump carrying a wheeled escape, sometimes used synonymously with escape tender.

Exhibition unit

ExU

Vehicle used for staging fire safety and recruiting exhibitions.

Extra heavy unit

EHU

Wartime pumping appliance with 6-delivery 1,100gpm pump.

Fire and rescue tender

FRT

Another term for a rescue pump used by Dumfries & Galloway Fire & Rescue Service.

Fire float

 

Obsolete term for a boat or barge equipped for firefighting, not usually self-propelled.

Fire fogging unit

FFU

Light 4-wheel drive vehicle equipped with a high pressure pump for generating a water fog.

Fire investigation unit

FIU

Vehicle with technical and administrative facilities for investigating the cause of a fire.

Fire rescue unit

FRU

London FB term for a rescue tender.

Fireboat

FBt

Self-propelled vessel specially designed or adapted for firefighting.

First strike appliance

 

Light appliance with hose-reel or small pump to provide some form of attack pending the arrival of heavier equipment. Often used by works fire brigades. Term no longer in general use.

First-aid tender

 

Obsolete appliance with basic firefighting tools and possibly a hose-reel.

Foam carrier

FoC

Tanker or vehicle carrying large quantity of foam compound in containers.

Foam salvage tender

FST

Appliance combining the functions of a foam tender and a salvage tender.

Foam tender

FoT, FT

Appliance carrying  foam and foam-making equipment, sometimes with a built-in pump.

Foam tender

E/FoamT

AFS general purpose lorry adapted to carry 100 5-gallon drums of foam compound.

Foam trailer

FoTr, FTr

Trailer carrying foam and foam-making equipment.

Food & drinking water carrier

E/FoodC

AFS general purpose lorry fitted to carry portable cooking equipment and food and water for mobile fire columns.

Forced entry and lighting unit

FEL

A London appliance of the 1970s.

Fork-lift truck

FLT

Vehicle used for loading and unloading containerised or palletised equipment from e.g. operational support units and incident response units. Carried piggy-back style on the rear of such appliances.

Forward control unit

FCU

A light vehicle that can be used as a control point closer to an incident than would be practical with a main control or command unit, similar to a command support unit.

General purpose lorry

E/GP

AFS dropside lorry with canvas tilt for carrying general loads.

General purpose lorry/vehicle/van

GPL, GPV

 

Green Goddess

E/P

Popular name for the AFS emergency pump.

Hazardous materials unit

HazMat, HMU

Appliance equipped for dealing with hazardous materials similar to a chemical incident unit.

Heavy demountable chassis

HDC

London Fire Brigade term for a large prime mover.

Heavy rescue tender/vehicle

HRT, HRV

Term used by some brigades for a large rescue tender with extensive range of equipment.

Heavy unit

HU

Wartime pumping appliance with 4-delivery 700gpm pump.

Height vehicle

 

Term used by Kent Fire & Rescue Service for an aerial appliance.

Hi-ex (foam) unit

 

Appliance designed to generate and deliver high expansion foam.

High volume pumping unit

HVPU

New Dimension appliance with demountable pump and hose laying facility.

Hose carrier

HoC, HC

Appliance whose principal purpose is to carry hose.

Hose foam tender

HFoT, HFT

Appliance combining the functions of a hose layer or carrier and a foam tender.

Hose layer

E/HL

AFS hose layer.

Hose layer, hose laying lorry

HL, HLL

Appliance designed to pay out hose as it travels.

Hose-reel escape

 

Same as escape tender.

Hose-reel tender

HRT

Largely obsolete appliance with water tank and hose-reel but no main pump.

Hydraulic platform

HP

Aerial appliance with two hinged booms, and sometimes a third fly boom, with a cage at the head mounted on a turntable and typically extending to a maximum working height of between 65 and 90 feet. Popularly called a 'Snorkel' after the original platform by Simon Engineering.

Hydraulic platform pump

HPP

A hydraulic platform with a pump to provide water for the monitor (water cannon) mounted on the cage. Not the same as a pump hydraulic platform.

Incident command and control unit

ICCU

Long name for a control unit.

Incident command unit

ICU

Another name for a control unit.

Incident response unit

IRU

New Dimension appliance with decontamination equipment for use at chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents. It's a big decontamination unit.

Incident support unit

ISU

Appliance carrying special firefighting and other equipment not available on a standard fire engine. See also operational support unit.

Inflatable rescue boat

IRBt

Carried on some rescue tenders or towed on a trailer.

Light 2-wheel-drive vehicle with hose-reel

L2T

Similar to a hose-reel tender or first strike appliance.

Light 2-wheel-drive vehicle with pump

L2P

Similar to a first strike appliance.

Light 4-wheel-drive rescue tender

L4R

Light rescue tender with off-road capability.

Light 4-wheel-drive vehicle

L4V

Vehicle with off-road capability such a Land Rover for general use.

Light 4-wheel-drive vehicle with hose-reel

L4T

Similar to a hose-reel tender or first strike appliance with off-road capability.

Light 4-wheel-drive vehicle with pump

L4P

Light pump with off-road capability.

Light 6-wheel-drive rescue tender

L6R

Light rescue tender with off-road capability.

Light 6-wheel-drive vehicle with hose-reel

L6T

Similar to a hose-reel tender or first strike appliance with off-road capability.

Light 6-wheel-drive vehicle with pump

L6P

Light pump with off-road capability.

Light demountable chassis

LDC

London Fire Brigade term for a light prime mover.

Light fire appliance

LFA

Light van-based appliance mainly used in the more remote areas of Scotland.

Light portable pump

LPP

A pump carried on a water tender or other appliance that can be used away from the vehicle.

Light portable pump carrier

E/LPPCr

AFS general purpose lorry adapted to carry six E/LPPs and associated equipment.

Light rescue tender

LRT

Light vehicle equipped for rescuing people trapped in precarious situations such as road traffic accidents.

Light strike appliance

 

Term used by Guernsey Fire Brigade for a first strike appliance.

Light water tender

LWrT

Usually a water tender with less than a 400-gal (1,818 litre) water tank, i.e. a pump.

Lighting unit

LU

Appliance equipped to provide lighting at the scene of an incident.

Lighting unit trailer

LUTr

Trailer equipped to provide lighting at the scene of an incident.

Lightweight portable pump

E/LPP

Specially designed light portable pump for the AFS emergency pump (Green Goddess).

Line rescue unit

LiRU

See also rope rescue unit and cliff rescue unit.

Maintenance vehicle

E/MV

AFS general purpose lorry fitted and equipped as a service vehicle to maintain appliances in a mobile fire column.

Major pump

MP

Term once used in some brigades for a pump that was bigger than the 400/500gpm appliance provided for in the JCDD specification.

Major rescue tender

MRT

Same as a heavy rescue tender.

Manual pump

 

Obsolete reciprocating pump operated by working levers up and down by hand. Came in various sizes and the larger ones were horse-drawn.

Mass decontamination unit

 

Generic term for the New Dimension disrobe and re-robe modules.

Medium demountable chassis

MDC

London Fire Brigade term for a medium prime mover.

Mobile dam unit

MDU

Dam lorry either towing or carrying a pump. The forerunner of the modern water tender.

Mobile display unit

MDU

Same as an exhibition unit.

Mobile kitchen

E/KT

AFS vehicle equipped to provide and serve hot meals for 300 personnel.

Mobile workshop

MW, MWS

Vehicle equipped to repair appliances on station or even on the fireground.

Motor pump

MP

Term used for early petrol-driven pumps to distinguish them from horse-drawn engines.

Motor tender

MT

Obsolete term for a vehicle carrying basic firefighting tools and often used as a towing vehicle for trailer pumps.

Motor-cycle

Mc

 

Motor-cycle

E/Mc

AFS solo motorcycle used to assist in the control of mobile fire columns and for dispatch riding.

Motor-cycle combination

MComb

Motor-cycle with sidecar, equipped with simple firefighting tools or used for general transport of small items.

Multi-role vehicle

MRV

Appliance able to load containerised or palletised equipment according to need.

Operational support unit

Operations support unit

OSU

Appliance carrying special firefighting and other equipment, often containerised or palletised, not available on a standard fire engine. See also incident support unit.

Personnel carrying vehicle

PCV

Personnel carrier, i.e. a vehicle used for transporting personnel between locations, usually a minibus.

Personnel carrying vehicle

E/PCV

AFS general purpose lorry fitted with removeable bench seating for 28 personnel in the back.

Petrol carrier

PetC

Vehicle carrying petrol to refuel appliances on the fireground. Modern appliances are diesel-powered and fuel is generally transported in cans by general purpose lorries.

Petrol carrier

E/PetrolC

AFS general purpose lorry adapted to carry 144 20-litre cans of petrol to refuel appliances.

Pipe carrier

E/PipeC

AFS lorry designed to carry 1/3 mile of 6-inch plastic or light alloy piping.

Portable pump

PP

Applicable to Scotland.

Prime mover

PM

A vehicle fitted with a system to load and transport different specialised bodies or pods according to need.

Pump

P

A fire engine with a built-in main pump. The postwar JCDD specification provided for a water tank of at least 80 gallons, a 400/500gpm (1,820/2,270 l/min) pump, an extension ladder and acceleration from 0-40mph in 25 seconds. See also major pump. Now used to indicate a pumping appliance with a water tank of less than 400 gallons (1,818 litres) carrying a 30- or 35-ft.(9 or 10.5m) ladder.

Pump escape

PE

A pump carrying a wheeled escape ladder usually extending to 50 feet. Replaced by the pump ladder/water tender ladder and no longer in use.

Pump escape with breathing apparatus

PE(BA)

Once applicable to Scotland.

Pump foam tender

PFT

A foam tender with a built-in pump.

Pump hydraulic platform

PHP

A pump fitted with a 50 foot (usually) hydraulic platform conceived in 1962 to combine the roles of a pumping appliance and small aerial appliance. Not the same as a hydraulic platform pump.

Pump ladder

PL

A pump carrying the 3-section 45 foot, or metric equivalent 13.5 metre, ladder which replaced the wheeled escape.

Pump ladder rescue/rescue pump ladder

PRL, RPL

A pump ladder equipped with accident rescue equipment.

Pump salvage tender

PST

A salvage tender with a built-in pump.

Pump water tender

PWT

An out-of-date term for a water tender, type-A.

Pump with breathing apparatus

P(BA)

Applicable to Scotland.

Pumping appliance

 

Generic term for any appliance with a built-in pump that is not a special appliance.

Quad

 

An American term to denote a triple combination pumper (pump, hose and water tank) also carrying ground ladders. Included to compare with quint which is included as a British appliance. See also triple.

 

Quint

 

An American term to denote a quad (see above) fitted with an aerial device such as a mid- or rear-mount turntable ladder, hydraulic platform or tower. In the UK the term is used to describe the pump/turntable ladder in service with Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service.

Radio repeater unit

E/Rep Stn

AFS light 4-wheel-drive vehicle with radio equipment and aerials to enable radio communication over long distances.

Rail support unit

RSU

Road vehicle able to travel on railway lines, e.g. as used by Avon FRS for use in the Avon Tunnel.

Ramps, dams and hose carrier

E/Ramps, Dams & Hose C

AFS general purpose lorry adapted to carry portable water reservoirs (dams), hose and hose ramps.

Rapid intervention vehicle

RIV

A fast vehicle which is lighter than a full-sized crash tender designed to effect rescues from crashed/burning aircraft before the arrival of heavier appliances. Also an alternative name for a first strike appliance.

Re-robe module

MDR

A New Dimension appliance with equipment to replenish incident response units.

Reconnaisance car

E/RecceC

AFS command car when used for reconnaissance purposes.

Recovery vehicle

RV, RcyV

Breakdown lorry used for towing disabled appliances.

Recovery vehicle

E/RcyV

AFS breakdown lorry with crane.

Regional towing vehicle

RTV

The name said to be given to some wartime towing vehicles.

Rescue pump

RP

A pump equipped with accident rescue equipment.

Rescue pump ladder

RPL

A pump ladder with accident rescue equipment.

Rescue pump platform

RPP

A rescue pump with an HVG road traffic accident rescue platform instead of a 13.5m ladder.

Rescue support vehicle

RSV

Another name for a rescue tender.

Rescue tender

RT

An appliance with special equipment for rescuing people trapped in precarious situations, such as road and industrial accidents. Many are also equipped for effecting water rescues.

Road accident vehicle

RAV

Another name for an accident rescue unit.

Road rescue unit/vehicle

RRU, RRV

Another name for an accident rescue unit.

Rope rescue unit

RRU

See also line rescue unit and cliff rescue unit.

Salvage tender

ST

Appliance carrying a range of equipment to minimise the effect of water, smoke and fire damage and to rescue goods from a fire.

Salvage trailer

STr

Trailer carrying equipment to minimise the effect of water, smoke and fire damage and to rescue goods from a fire.

Salvage trap

 

Horse-drawn salvage tender.

Scientific support unit

SSU

Vehicle operated by London FB with a similar function to a DIM unit.

Scoosher

 

Appliance developed by Glasgow Fire Brigade in the late 1960s comprising a pumping appliance fitted with two articulated booms on top of the body. At their head was a water monitor, a window-breaker and an infra-red fire detector.

Self-propelled pump

SPP

Obsolete term for a motorised pumping appliance. The AFS emergency pump or "Green Goddess" was described as a self-propelled pump in official Home Office literature.

Service vehicle/van

SV

Vehicle less comprehensively equipped than a mobile workshop to service appliances on station.

Simonitor

 

Trade name for a single telescopic boom with a maximum working height  of 50 feet (15 metres) and monitor at the head that could be installed on top of an appliance body. Manufactured by Simon Engineering. Simonitors were fitted to some pumps and a few foam tenders.

Small fires unit

SFU

Light van-based appliance used by some brigades to attend 'nuisance fires' such as rubbish and abandoned cars alight. See also tactical response vehicle.

Snorkel

 

Trade name for Simon Engineering hydraulic platform.

Snozzle

 

Trade name for a two-boom elevating and extending arm fitted with a water monitor and high intensity light at the head. A piercing nozzle able to penetrate an aircraft fuselage and a colour camera are optional extras. Buckinghamshire FRS had one fitted to a pump in 1992; fitted to some of the latest airfield crash tenders. Manufactured by Crash Rescue Equipment Service Inc. of Dallas, USA. The modern equivalent of the Simonitor.

Spare clothing carrier

E/Spare Clothing

AFS general purpose lorry adapted to carry spare clothing for personnel in a mobile fire column.

Special appliance

 

Any appliance that is not a pumping appliance.

Special equipment unit

SEU

Term used by Hampshire FRS for an incident/operational support unit.

Staff car

Car, S/Car

 

Steam pump

 

19th century pump operated by steam power produced by an on-board boiler, usually horse-drawn. Continued into the early 20th century.

Tactical response vehicle

Targeted response vehicle

TRV

Light appliance, often van-based, used by some brigades to attend 'nuisance fires' such as rubbish and abandoned cars alight. See also small fires unit.

Towing vehicle

TV

Vehicle used to tow a trailer pump or other equipment.

Trailer pump

TrP

Pump designed to be towed behind a motor vehicle and best known for its widespread use in World War 2.

Trailer pump, large

 

World War 2 trailer pump with output between about 430 and 500gpm (1,955 and 2,270 l/min).

Trailer pump, light

 

World War 2 trailer pump with output between about 140 and 175gpm (635 and 795 l/min).

Trailer pump, medium

 

World War 2 trailer pump with output between about 230 and 320gpm (1,045 and 1,455 l/min).

Transportable water unit

E/TWU

AFS vehicle carrying three inflatable rafts and nine light portable pumps developed as a means of pumping large quantities of water from places inaccessible to standard appliances. Popularly known as the Bikini unit.

Triple

Triple combination pumper

 

An American term to denote an appliance with pump, hose and water tank. Included to compare with quint which is included as a British appliance. See also quad.

Turntable ladder

TL, (TTL obsolete)

Aerial appliance comprising a self-supporting, vehicle-mounted, elevating and extending ladder mounted on a turntable so that it can be rotated. Generally of 100 foot maximum extension and used for high level rescues and as a water tower.

Turntable ladder pump

TLP

Turntable ladder with a pump to provide water for the monitor (water cannon) mounted at the head.

Turntable ladder, 60 foot

TL(60)

A hand-operated turntable ladder with a maximum extension of 60 foot built during World War 2 for towns unable to justify a 100ft ladder. Some were later converted to mechanical operation.

Urban search and rescue unit

USAR

A set of New Dimension appliances equipped to deal with major structural collapse and transport-related incidents such as plane or train crashes.

Utility vehicle/van

UV

Small general purpose vehicle.

Water carrier

WrC

Tanker carrying large quantity of water.

Water incident unit

WIU

Appliance equipped for effecting rescues from water.

Water management unit

WMU

Kent FRS appliance able to operate as a hose layer with hydraulic hose retrieval system, carrying dams and ground monitors.

Water rescue unit

WRU

Appliance equipped for effecting rescues from water.

Water safety unit

WSU

Appliance equipped for effecting rescues from water and ensuring safety of personnel engaged in activities close to water.

Water tender

WrT

Pumping appliance with a water tank of at least 400 gallons (1,818 litres) and built-in main pump, carrying a light portable pump and a 30 or 35 foot (9 or 10.5 metre) extension ladder. See water tender, type-A and type-B.

Water tender escape

WrE

A water tender carrying a wheeled escape ladder usually extending to 50 feet. Replaced by the water tender ladder and no longer in use.

Water tender hydraulic platform

WrHP

A popular designation for a pump hydraulic platform but incorrect as no WrHP was fitted with the minimum 400-gal (1,818 litre) tank required for a water tender.

Water tender ladder

WrL

Water tender carrying the 3-section 45 foot, or metric equivalent 13.5 metre, ladder which replaced the wheeled escape.

Water tender ladder rescue/rescue water tender ladder

WrL/R, R/WrL

Water tender ladder equipped with accident rescue equipment.

Water tender Type A

WrT(A)

Early post-war water tender without built-in main pump that towed a trailer pump.

Water tender Type B

WrT(B)

Post-war water tender with a built-in main pump.

Water tender/ladder

WrT/L

Term used in some fleet lists to indicate a water tender that can carry either a 35-ft (10.5m) 2-section ladder or a 45-ft (13.5m) 3-section ladder.

Wireless car

W/Car

Car fitted with radio primarily for use by officers.

Wireless van/vehicle

WV

Van or other vehicle fitted with radio, originating before the fitting of radios to fire vehicles was standard when a wireless van accompanied appliances to an incident.