Fire engines carry the hoses, nozzles, and firefighters necessary to pump water onto the fire to put it out.
There are five water intakes located around the engine. They connect to
hoses that bring water from a fire hydrant into the fire engine's water pump.
The pump panel controls the pressure of water coming out of the fire engine
and going into the hoses. If there is too much pressure, the hoses can
become uncontrollable. If there is too little pressure, there won't be
enough water to put out the fire.
Fire engines carry different sizes of hose for different types of fires. The
hoses are flat when they aren't filled with water, and are folded and
stacked on top of each other inside the hose bed.
The sirens can make two different sounds and be heard from blocks away.
Fire engines have flashing and rotating lights on top of the cabs, with additional lights at the front, back, and sides.
Fire isn't just powerful—it's fast, too. Ride along with an FDNY engine company, and learn just why it's important to clear the road for a fire truck that's racing to the scene.
![[Fire Engines]](/_img/text/l-fire_engines.gif){kind=small}
![[Intakes]](/_img/intakes.jpg)
![[Intakes]](/_img/text/s-intakes.gif){kind=small}
![[Pump Panel]](/_img/pump_panel.jpg)
![[Pump Panel]](/_img/text/s-pump_panel.gif){kind=small}
![[Hose Bed]](/_img/hose_bed.jpg)
![[Hose Bed]](/_img/text/s-hose_bed.gif){kind=small}
![[Sirens and Lights]](/_img/sirens_and_lights.jpg)
![[Sirens and Lights]](/_img/text/s-sirens_and_lights.gif){kind=small}
![[Race to the Fire]](/_img/text/s-race_to_the_fire.gif){kind=small}