Airmen fired-up over new vehicle

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachelle Elsea
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Tyndall recently received the first new P-34 fire truck, a vehicle whose research and development also partly took place on base through the efforts of the scientists and engineers of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL,) Fire Research Group.

"The first truck arrived on January 9," said Mr. Charles Cain, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief. "It is one of two vehicles Tyndall is projected to receive."

Training for the truck followed shortly after.

"The manufacturer came in and provided two days of training for our firefighters and maintenance personnel," said Mr. Cain. "Day one was classroom and day two was actual firefighting evolutions using JP-8 fuel. We conducted 27 live fire burns ranging from small incipient fires to major 500-gallon JP-8 jet fuel burns."

Some of the new changes consist of a 1,500 gallon equivalent vehicle that uses new Ultra High Pressure technology, as well as one-inch handlines in lieu of an inch and three-quarters. This allows for better utilization of water and foam resources and makes fighting the fire easier.

"This new technology helps us do our job better because we are not sitting there fighting with the hose and having to pull cumbersome lines," said Staff Sgt. William Dryden, 325th CES firefighter. "Technically there is more pressure but, it is broken down to where there is less resistance for us."

Sergeant Dryden has been a firefighter for 13 years and has seen several new trucks come in to the inventory. The same is true for many of the other firefighters.

For 29-year firefighter, Mr. Robert Maher, the technology of the P-34 is vastly different compared to the ten or so new vehicles he has seen over his career.

"Usually the training is mostly on the vehicle itself, like how the truck operates, but the technology used to fight the fire is the same," said Mr. Maher. "The techniques for firefighting with this truck are different; before we would discharge a lot of water on a fire to put it out, however, with the P-34 we use smaller amounts of water. This new technology requires a new approach to firefighting."

Another change, due to the capabilities of the new truck, is a smaller cabin. The vehicles prior to the P-34 sat four, whereas the new truck only seats three.

Even for some of the newest firefighter, the change is a good one.

"It's awesome to have only been here for a year and see something like this come out and be a part of the new technology," said Airman 1st Class Derek Jubert, 325th CES firefighter. "I am sure everyone else is excited about it too and I can't wait to get to use it."

The P-34 is expected to be eventually be used Air Force wide.

"Numerous bases will be transitioning to this vehicle," said Mr. Cain. "Tyndall received the first one and 89 more from the first buy are being shipped to other installations."

For more information on the P-34 visit http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123261191