Why is the fire truck always left running whens its outside?
The short answer is, we don’t want to run the risk that the trucks won’t start up again. The long answer involves an explanation of how diesel engines work. The engines in most fire trucks do not handle the cold very well and need to be left running or plugged into an electrical outlet when exposed to less-than-desirable temperatures. In the station bay, the trucks are kept plugged in to a heater which keeps the engine warm (the bays are also heated). When parked outside from around September to April, the trucks must be left at idle to maintain temperature.
