Fire appliances in the United Kingdom
Fire services in the United Kingdom use a variety of fire appliances, which perform a wide range of general and specialised roles and fit into several distinct categories. Contemporary fire appliances carry a multitude of equipment and firefighting media (such as water and foam) to deal with different types of emergencies ranging from fires, rescues, vehicle extrication, floods, salvage, casualty and trauma care.
The design and size of a fire appliance depends very much upon the role it is expected to perform. In general, most fire and rescue services use a standardised range of vehicles and equipment. However, airport fire services tend to use much larger and heavier appliances than those typically deployed by public fire services. Most front line fire appliances in the UK are marked in high conspicuity red and yellow battenburg markings, and are fitted with blue lights and sirens. Many appliances have roller shutter doors revealing compartments housing various items of equipment.
Ministry of Defence fire services[edit]
The Defence Fire and Rescue Service and Royal Air Force Rescue and Firefighting Service operate numerous types of appliances, ranging from domestic-type tenders to airfield crash tenders, depending on the location they are serving.
Industrial and private fire and rescue services[edit]
Industrial and private fire and rescue services use several types of appliances depending on the type of cover provided. Large oil refineries may have their own on-site fire service that deploys large bulk foam tenders to deal with major oil fires. Domestic type fire appliances are most commonly used.