Take a Tour of a Hillsborough County Fire Engine

Part personnel carrier, part toolbox, part water tanker -- these enormous trucks have more than sirens and flashing lights

More often than not, the only time we see fire engines are when they are speeding past us on the way to emergencies.

However, if you had the chance to get a closer look, you would see that fire engines have a lot of components beyond the usual ladders and lights.

A fire engine's dashboard includes numerous gauges, including those for miles per hour (MPH), revolutions per minute (RPM), fuel, volts, oil, water temperature (of the cooling system fluid), and transmission temperature.

Fire engines, also known as pumper fire trucks, are the most common type of fire trucks. They are designed to haul and dispense water. For this reason, fire engines hold a tank of water and can also pump water from nearby hydrants for a continuous water supply.

Various diameters and lengths of hoses are stored throughout the fire engine.

Unlike most traditional fire engines, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) fire engines are not red, they are instead painted "safety yellow." The bright yellow color is more visible than red, especially at night and in bad weather conditions.

A folding ladder is stored in the back of this fire engine.

Fire engines carry basic firefighting tools, ladders, water, and emergency medical equipment.

Take a photo tour of a HCFR fire engine and get a closer look at these trucks' interesting features.