CCF: the fire brigade’s forest fire tanker

A van built for off-road driving

The CCF — a forest fire tanker, sometimes referred to as a forest tanker depending on the department — is a fire engine of a particular type. Whereas urban fire engines remain on tarmac, the CCF is designed to leave the road : crossing a rutted track, climbing a hillside, venturing deep into the undergrowth to bring water to the fire.

All its characteristics stem from this purpose. A 4×4 chassis with exceptional off-road capabilities. A low centre of gravity to navigate on a slope without tipping over. A power-to-weight ratio of at least 20 horsepower per tonne, as required by the standard, to ensure it never runs out of power. And a water tank — with a capacity of 2,000 to 4,000 litres on standard models — which turns the lorry into a mobile water supply, capable of tackling the fire directly with the fire hose.

With nearly 5,000 copies Deployed across the SDIS, the CCF is a vehicle standardised : National standards govern its classification, safety and equipment, ensuring that all CCFs in France meet the same standard. Its all-terrain capabilities also make it a valuable asset during bad weather and floods — a versatility that is now incorporated into departmental risk analysis plans.

CCFL, CCFM, CCFS: the three types of CCF

Not all CCFs are the same. They are classified into three categories according to their total laden weight, each with its own tactical role:

• The Lightweight CCF (CCFL) — from 2 to 7.5 tonnes, a small crew, limited water capacity but exceptional manoeuvrability. It carries out reconnaissance and initial attacks in areas where larger aircraft cannot operate.
• The average CCF (CCFM) — the most common: around 4,000 litres of water, a crew of four firefighters, weighing around 13 tonnes. This is the backbone of the fleet, deployed either on its own or in a convoy.
• The Super CCF (CCFS) — from 6,000 to 8,000 litres, sometimes more, often fitted with a water cannon on the roof controlled from the cab. It provides sustained support and backs up the attack vehicles.

The anatomy of a lorry that has to survive a fire

Approaching a fire means exposing yourself to extreme temperatures and toxic fumes. The CCF is designed to to protect its crew in this hostile environment — even to the point of crossing a wall of flames if the situation demands it.

The crew: four firefighters, four specialisations

A CCF isn’t just a lorry: first and foremost, it’s a trained team. The traditional crew consists of four fire brigade additional qualifications:

• Two team members : As holders of the Level 1 Forest Fire Training qualification (FDF1), they lead fire-fighting operations on the ground — direct attack, operating hoses, and safety in forest environments.
• A driver : as well as his FDF1 licence, he holds a heavy goods vehicle licence and has completed off-road driving training (COD2). Driving a 13-tonne vehicle along a sloping track, through billowing smoke, is not something you can just wing it.
• An apparatus coach : Trained as a Level 2 forest firefighter (FDF2), he coordinates his crew’s tactical operations.

At the top, the team leader — who commands the entire GIFF from the command vehicle — holds an FDF3 qualification. This chain of command ensures that every decision, from the driver’s seat to the fire hose, is taken by someone who is properly trained. In some fire and rescue services (SDIS) in the South-West, the crew is reduced to two to allow for more water carriers.

The GIFF: the CCF never fights alone

A standalone CCF is vulnerable. That is why it is almost always deployed as part of a GIFF — Forest Fire Response Team : four CCFs and a command vehicle, that is to say, around twenty firefighters working as one.

The advance follows a precise order of battle: from the most manoeuvrable to the least manoeuvrable — with the off-road liaison vehicle at the head, tasked with reconnaissance, followed by the CCFs. The light vehicles clear the way and lead the initial attack, whilst the heavy transport vehicles provide sustained support. When several GIFFs are deployed together against a major target, a logistics vehicle helps them transport equipment, a change of clothes and food.

This is where national solidarity comes into play: in the summer of 2022, more than 3,000 firefighters and their CCF units, which had arrived in reinforcement columns from all over France, were deployed simultaneously to tackle the massive wildfires in Gironde. In July 2026, the Lacanau fire once again brought columns of CCF units together in the same Gironde mountain range. And all of this coincided with the air assets — because, whether on the ground or in the sky, nothing works without coordination.

Detailed technical specifications

As there are several types of CCF, these values correspond to the average CCF (CCFM), which is the most common.

The Earth and the Sky: why the CCF is irreplaceable

A persistent misconception is that aeroplanes put out fires. In reality, they are slowing down : it’s the floor that puts it out.

The development of fire engines is driven by changing risk profiles: faced with more intense and faster-spreading fires, the SDIS are renewing their fleets with vehicles carrying greater water capacity, enhanced self-protection systems and modernised communication and geolocation equipment. And as the risk spreads northwards and westwards across the country, departments that were previously poorly equipped are in turn acquiring fire engines. But the fire engine will remain what it has always been: a vehicle serving a team — it is the fire brigade who, with a torch in hand, put out the fire.

Frequently Asked Questions about the CCF