A fire truck, also known as a fire engine, is a vehicle specially designed and built to carry firefighters and be equipped with various fire-fighting appliances or extinguishing agents. It is used by fire departments for fire suppression, auxiliary fire fighting, and emergency rescue operations. In most countries, including China, fire departments also deploy these vehicles for other urgent rescue missions. Fire trucks transport firefighters to the scene of a disaster and supply them with a wide array of tools to carry out rescue tasks.
Modern fire trucks are typically fitted with steel ladders, water guns, portable extinguishers, self-contained breathing apparatus, protective clothing, forcible-entry tools, first-aid kits, and more. Some also carry large-scale fire-fighting equipment such as water tanks, pumps, and foam-discharging systems. In most areas, fire trucks are painted red, though in some regions they are yellow, as are certain specialized units. A siren, warning lights, and strobe lights are usually installed on the roof. Common types include water-tank fire trucks, foam tenders, dry-powder vehicles, long-distance water-supply trucks, aerial ladder trucks, and turntable ladder trucks.
