Heavy Brush 3 and Heavy Brush 4
Heavy Brush 3 and Heavy Brush 4, identical trucks, recently completed by JFRFPD, are built on 1984 military M923 5-ton, 6x6 chassis. They have 1650 gallon tanks, 23 HP Hale pumps to drive 4 front and 2 rear independent bumper nozzles and monitors mounted on the front left grill, all controlled from the cab. Heavy Brush 3 is stationed in the western part of Juniper Flat at Station 3 and Heavy Brush 4 will be assigned shortly. These trucks are part of the strategic new generation of engines designed to be used in teams to combat the larger, fast-running fires expected in the future.
In the picture below, Heavy Brush 3 is viewed from the front left quarter. The monitor is visible, mounted to the left of the grill and above the hood. Also visible on the monitor is an infrared (IR) camera (black box with wire) feeding a display in the cab that provides the operator with a view of hot spots and a better view through smoke. The four front bumper nozzles are visible, two above the bumper, directed forward and to the sides and two below the bumper, directed downward:
A view from the front right quarter. Note the large decals on both sides to assist in identification of the trucks in low-light or smoke-obscured conditions, or from the air (e.g. with a drone).
