TWIN LAKES, Wis. — Twin Lakes Fire/Rescue has placed a new rapid response pickup truck equipped with an Ultra High-Pressure (UHP) fire suppression system into service, a move officials say will allow firefighters to begin attacking fires much faster while operating with limited staffing. The vehicle, funded by the Village of Twin Lakes, is designed to serve as the department’s first-arriving fire apparatus when only two firefighters are on duty at the station.
The department maintains around-the-clock staffing with two full-time firefighter/EMS personnel. An additional supervisor is on duty Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and optional in-station staffing is offered on Fridays and weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. when paid-on-call and part-time firefighters are available.
Fire Chief Ron Redlin said the new truck is specifically intended to give crews a critical advantage during the first few minutes of a fire.
“This is a great first-line apparatus for when we only have two people staffed in the station,” Redlin said. “The UHP system can knock down a room-and-contents fire in approximately 30 seconds while using only about eight gallons of water.”
Redlin said firefighters are trained to operate the system from outside the structure until additional crews and equipment arrive, allowing them to begin suppressing the fire immediately, slow its growth, and improve conditions before an interior attack is made.
Unlike traditional fire attack lines, which often use more than 70 gallons of water per minute, the UHP system operates at pressures between 1,100 and 1,500 pounds per square inch while using just 5 to 20 gallons of water per minute. The specialized nozzle turns water into an extremely fine mist that rapidly absorbs heat and converts to steam, helping cool the fire while reducing oxygen around the flames. Officials say the technology suppresses fires quickly while significantly reducing water damage to homes and businesses.
The department said the system is also capable of fighting vehicle fires using foam and is well-suited for grass, brush, and wildland fires, making it a versatile addition to the fleet.
The rapid response vehicle is built on a Ford F-350 Super Duty chassis with a 150-gallon water tank. The truck was outfitted by 10-33 Vehicle Service in Sullivan, while the UHP system was supplied by Reliant Fire Apparatus Inc. of Slinger. According to Twin Lakes Fire/Rescue, the investment will help firefighters begin fire suppression more quickly, conserve water, and improve operational effectiveness while additional resources are responding.
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