What are portable tanks used for at fire scenes?

Portable tanks are specifically designed to hold large volumes of water, typically ranging from 600 to 5,000 gallons, making them essential in firefighting operations. Their primary purpose is to serve as temporary water reservoirs during an incident, especially in areas where a municipal water supply may be unavailable or insufficient. Firefighters can quickly fill these tanks with water, ensuring an adequate supply for firefighting efforts, especially in rural or remote locations.

While transporting water to fires is a function of other equipment, like water tenders or fire engines, portable tanks themselves are stationary and do not transport water; they are used for storage on-site. Dispersing excess water and filtering water are not applications of portable tanks either, as their function focuses solely on holding water for immediate firefighting use.