Please excuse me if I missed the bus but, Why fire "appliance"? Whats wrong with fire "engine" or "truck"?

Question

I was just watching the news (in New Zealand) and they kept talking about fire "appliances". Tell me I've been living under a rock if you like but I've only just noticed it. is there something politically incorrect about fire engine or fire truck? Please enlighten me if you can...

Answer 1

Because the fire engine or truck is only a means to get to the site of the fire quickly..  the appliance is what they need.. the firefighters need to wear their speacial suits. and the fire hose is theire to quench the fire.. etc etc..everything else that is needed to stop a fire from spreading I suppose is called ''Fire appliance''

Answer 2

Fire proof clothing , and fire gear.

It's not just the truck.

Answer 3

If the same rules apply to NZ that apply to the US this is just another was to say fire truck or engine.  There are different meanings however.  Fire appliance would be a general term like fire apparatus that we use in the US.  It would apply to both trucks and engines.  In the use an engine is the vehicle that will pump water at a fire scene.  A truck could either designate an apparatus with a ladder or a vehicle with a commercial chassis that has been modified into a fire vehicle.  Confused?  A real fire engine would be a vehicle that was purpose built to fight fire.  I think Dennis builds fire engines as American LaFrance and Seagrave do here in the US.  If Ford or Chevrolet or some other truck builder provided the chassis to a fire apparatus manufacturer who then built the fire body then it would be a fire truck.  

I hope this helps.

Answer 4

I've never heard about that. Probably new rules again...I will stick to the fire engine :)