8 Engine 9

8 Engine 9 is one of the department's newer fire truck.   It is a Pumper/Tanker capable of pumping 1000 GPM and storing over 2300 gallons of water and has a dumper valve in the rear.    8 Engine 9 is a bit unusual in that it can equally serve as a pumper and a tanker.  It features a six-person cab allowing five fire fighters to sit safely inside on the way to an incident with their SCBA already donned and ready to fight the fire. The driver remains with the apparatus to man the pump and other systems during incidents.   Above the tank is a hose bed that holds 1000 feet of large diameter ( 5 inch) hose that can be used with a hydrant. Very easily laid out but no fun to pick up.  It replaced another fire truck that had been in service for 25 years!  It is housed at Company 9.  The hoses sticking out right behind the cab are not carelessly stored. The loops are there for a firefighter to grab and drag all the hose in the cross lay out and to the fire in one motion.

8 Engine 9 is shown here outside of Survive Alive at the Vanderburgh 4 H Fairgrounds. Notice the large hoses on the top side. These are hard suction hoses to draft water from water sources such as lakes, swimming pools, or the Fold-a-Tank (from 8 Tanker 9)