That Spokane-based fire train has seen action several times just in the past month.
http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/news/bnsf-helps-suppress-spokane-wildfire.html?channel=00
http://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-news/dnr-attacking-fast-moving-brush-fire-near-fish-lake/33637964
Sometime back[art. is dated Nov.1, 2013], The website "Friends of the BNSF' published a photo of their latest(then) addition to their firefighting equipped railroad cars, about the same time
This photo was copied from the following linked article @ http://www.firefighternation.com/article/special-operations/bnsf-railways-unique-firefighting-tank-car
from FireRescue Magazine in their "Firefighter Nation" feature. The article includes additional pictures of this purpose built firefighting railorad car, which the article notes is stationed in the Spokane,Washington area. Noted also is the mutual-aid availibility within a 5 hour radius of its location.
The following is from the article[snipped]"...The car was built using a standard but modified flat log hauling railcar. Water tanks were added as well as two overhead command areas with deluge guns on each end. The firefighting train is made up of two tender cars, a fire car and a caboose that serves as a command center.The car also features:
• 3,250-gallon fiberglass water tanks (two on each tender)
• 500-gallon foam tank
• Honda pumps, one on each side
• Honda generator that supplies halogen lights for night operations
• Movable deluge guns mounted on each side of a platform..."[snip]
It looked like the caboose had "ground" nozzles as well as the hose line. Other images show it marked "Command Center." It may also house the pump(s), although I saw evidence of them on the tank cars.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
"Fire train" - actually, just a caboose with a hose or nozzle being shoved - is shown from about 1:47 to 2:00 in the linked video, which is 2:20 long.
Thanks for sharing !
-Paul North.
Very interesting. I've seen a fire train parked waiting for an alarm, but this is the first I've seen in action.
As for fireworks, we had two structure fires and one serious injury in Clark County this year, caused by 'legal' fireworks. Burning black powder + anything dry and flammable = trouble...
Chuck [MSgt(USAF)ret - non-user of recreational explosives]
http://www.katu.com/news/local/Crews-battle-wildfire-in-The-Dalles-311696511.html?mobile=y&clmob=y&c=n
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