New P-34 RIV firefighting vehicle makes debut

  • Published
  • By John Burt
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Firefighters training at the Silver Flag exercise site here got some "hands-on" time with the Air Force's new version of the P-34 Rapid Intervention Vehicle today.

Members of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center's Readiness Directorate planned several simulated aircraft rescue firefighting tests at the training facility.

The P-34 RIV is the first crash response truck in the Air Force to use ultra-high pressure firefighting technology. The 500-gallon P-34 RIV performs 3.5 times more effectively than larger conventional firefighting vehicles and increases the time a truck can remain on scene without needing resupplying.

The firefighters had the opportunity to deploy the RIV's main UHP turret, as well as the two 200-foot, one-inch hand lines to extinguish jet-fuel fires.

KME Kovatch of Nesquehoning, Pa., won the contract to build 148 RIVs for the Air Force.

The KME version offers new features including both Class-A and Class-B firefighting foam capability and a redesigned UHP turret. The Air Force has a requirement for 238 RIVs. The previous 90 vehicles were built by Pierce Manufacturing in Bradenton, Fla.