New brush rig.

[Chariots of Fire]

This is a new brush fire rig that our local FD recently had built.  M939 5 ton chassis, 800 gallon poly tank, pump and roll capabilities, about 35,000 GVW.  We call them "brushbreakers".

 

[hct728(Bob)]

Quite the conversion project! Saw a video of if, is Chief Matt Rowley a relative?

[hct728(Bob)]

https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/courier-sentinel/2021/04/25/wareham-firefighters-break-new-brush-breaker/7369967002/

Edited July 7, 2021 by hct728(Bob)

[Chariots of Fire]

My oldest son.?

[Vietnam Vet67]

How about an automated forest raker like the ex-president wanted??????????

[Chariots of Fire]

Have no idea what that is Ed!

[Rodent]

Was a slam on California. We don't rake our forests like Norway does, that's why we have so many big fires.

That said, That is a pretty serious brush rig. The local ones here are nowhere that serious and I suspect we have more brush fires than you do, LOL. The most local brush rig is an older Ford F750 that is fading from red to pink very rapidly.

[mikemodeler]

That rig is pretty impressive! I am guessing you have some serious wildfires otherwise why would they build such a beast? I am sure that gets everyone's attention when driving around town!

 

[Chariots of Fire]

We haven't had many serious ones lately but they can pop up just about anytime, especially in the late spring before the leaves begin to come out.  Even more so if the snow pack has not flattened the duff down.  Those rigs are intended for going into the brush and woods, pinch the fire off at the flanks and go for the head.  They work in tandem so when the first truck gets low on water the second in line takes the lead.

[Aaronw]

That is quite a brute. 

 

7 hours ago, Rodent said:

Was a slam on California. We don't rake our forests like Norway does, that's why we have so many big fires.

That said, That is a pretty serious brush rig. The local ones here are nowhere that serious and I suspect we have more brush fires than you do, LOL. The most local brush rig is an older Ford F750 that is fading from red to pink very rapidly.

 

Our trees are sturdier out west. ?

In parts if MA, NJ and NY there are areas where the combination of soft soil and shallow rooted tree species will allow these big brush trucks to push over the smaller trees and brush to make their own roads. If you get out into Nevada, Utah, Eastern Oregon, and Southern Idaho, you can find some similar brush trucks, but without the cages since they mostly just have to push through sage brush. Pinyon and Juniper trees have deep roots to survive in the desert so they don't move easily and trying to push them over with anything smaller than a D6 CAT does not usually end well.

 

It is on my bucket list to get to see a Cape Cod Brush Breaker or New Jersey Stump Jumper in action (preferably from one of the nozzle operator's seats). A very different experience from how we do things out west.

[misterNNL]

11 hours ago, Chariots of Fire said:

We haven't had many serious ones lately but they can pop up just about anytime, especially in the late spring before the leaves begin to come out.  Even more so if the snow pack has not flattened the duff down.  Those rigs are intended for going into the brush and woods, pinch the fire off at the flanks and go for the head.  They work in tandem so when the first truck gets low on water the second in line takes the lead.

Please explain "flattening the duff down".

[Chariots of Fire]

In the fall of the year the leaves drop and older pine needles fall off leaving the litter on the ground.   It  forms a layer that is part leaves and needles and decaying matter from previous years.  If there is not much snow during the following winter the litter (duff) stays loose and can be easily wind blown.  When the duff is flattened down by snow pack it is less susceptible to rapid fire travel.  

[Jim B]

That's a pretty cool looking brushbreaker.  Future project for you, maybe?

[Rodent]

I learned something today. I always thought that "duff" was that body part that my parents were constantly telling me to get off of.

[mikemodeler]

15 hours ago, Rodent said:

I learned something today. I always thought that "duff" was that body part that my parents were constantly telling me to get off of.

Actually it is the brand of beer that Homer Simpson prefers!

 

[Chariots of Fire]

17 hours ago, Jim B said:

That's a pretty cool looking brushbreaker.  Future project for you, maybe?

Lots of measurements and photos first, Jim, but yes.  A future project for sure!

[misterNNL]

11 hours ago, mikemodeler said:

Actually it is the brand of beer that Homer Simpson prefers!

 

Any day I do not learn something new is somehow less interesting than a day when I actually DO. Today is better for learning what "duff" really is.