Gear Your Crew Can Trust on the Fire Line.
All-brass pumps. Steel and collapsible tanks. Built the same way since 1925 -- because when it matters most, reliability isn't optional.
When Fire Breaks Out, Your Gear Can't Be the Question Mark.
Wildland fire doesn't wait for backup. The only thing standing between a spot fire and a disaster is the person carrying the pump.
Spot Fires Spread Fast
A small fire becomes uncontrollable in minutes. You need suppression the moment you arrive, not after the engine gets into position.
Cheap Pumps Fail
Plastic components crack. Seals leak under pressure. When the pump in your hands fails on the line, there's no backup plan.
Terrain Doesn't Cooperate
Engines can't reach every fire. Steep slopes, dense brush, and remote ridgelines demand a firefighter on foot with a reliable tool.
Every Second Counts
The difference between a controlled situation and a catastrophe is measured in seconds. You need a pump that works the first time, every time.
A Pump for Every Crew and Every Condition.
From the classic galvanized steel tank to advanced tactical backpacks, every Indian Fire Pump is built around the same principle: all-brass pump construction that works when it matters most.
The Originals
The kidney-shaped steel tanks that started it all. Contoured back support. Cam-lock cap. The same proven design trusted on the fire line for a century.
90G Galvanized Tank
- 5-gallon galvanized steel, kidney shape
- FP200 all-brass Smith pump (2 seamless cylinders)
- Combination nozzle: straight stream / fan spray
- Reinforced brass outlet with filter screen
- Ventilated cam-lock cap with gasket
- Large 4" tank opening for easy filling
90S Stainless Steel Tank
- 5-gallon stainless steel, kidney shape
- FP200 all-brass Indian pump (2 seamless cylinders)
- Combination nozzle: straight stream / fan spray
- Reinforced brass outlet with filter screen
- Ventilated cam-lock cap with gasket
- Superior corrosion resistance
Lightweight. Rust-Proof.
UV-resistant poly construction that will never rust. Lumbar support brace transfers weight to the hips. Built for long shifts.
FER500 Poly Tank
- 5.5-gallon UV-resistant poly tank
- Premium Indian all-brass pump
- Heavy-duty shock-absorbing base
- Lumbar support brace with waist belt
- Ventilated cap, watertight gasket
- Large 4" fill opening
FER501 Poly Tank
- 5.5-gallon UV-resistant poly tank
- All-brass Fedco pump construction
- Heavy-duty shock-absorbing base
- Lumbar support brace with waist belt
- Will not rust, built for years of service
Pack Light. Hit Hard.
Collapsible bags that roll up to fit in tight spaces. From the original vinyl SmokeChaser to the military-grade Pro with MOLLE system. Designed for crews that move fast and travel light.
SmokeChaser FSV500
- 5-gallon vinyl collapsible bag
- Rolls up to fit in small storage spaces
- FP100 Fedco brass pump (2 seamless cylinders)
- Padded straps with clip-on pump holder
- Center cinch strap for load balance
- Large 4" fill opening with tethered cap
SmokeChaser FSV500PG
- 5-gallon vinyl collapsible bag
- Fedco brass pistol grip pump
- Rolls up for compact storage
- Padded shoulder straps
- Center cinch strap for balance
Chief DBL500
- 5-gallon collapsible dual-bag system
- Inner liner + protective nylon outer bag
- Includes extra liner in utility pouch
- Quick disconnect for hose, snaps into fill cap
- Premium padded straps with center cinch
- Fedco brass pump (2 seamless cylinders)
SmokeChaser Pro
- 5-gallon ballistic nylon bag
- Ergonomic "wedge" shape
- Heavily padded closed-cell straps
- USFS approved FP100 Fedco brass pump
- Designed to reduce fatigue on long shifts
SmokeChaser Pro + FP300
- 5-gallon ballistic nylon bag with load-sensitive liner
- FP300 Dual Action pump: continuous flow on push AND pull
- Military-grade laser-cut MOLLE system
- Heavily padded closed-cell straps, moisture resistant
- Quick disconnect, USFS approved
SmokeChaser Chief
- 5-gallon UV-resistant fireproof Cordura fabric
- Rugged dual-bag construction
- Rolls up for compact storage
- Fedco FPG100 brass pistol grip pump
Complete the Kit
Carry racks, replacement pumps, and parts to keep your crew equipped and field-ready.
Kidney Style Carry Rack
- Designed for Indian Steel Fire Pumps
- Fits 90G galvanized and 90S stainless models
- Kidney-style mounting
Universal Carry Rack
- Universal style for Indian Poly Fire Pumps
- Fits FER500 and FER501 models
- Secure vehicle mounting
FP300 Dual Action Pump
- Continuous water flow on push and pull stroke
- All-brass construction
- Compatible with SmokeChaser Pro systems
On the Fire Line Since 1925.
In 1925, District Forest Ranger Ernest Blue approached D.B. Smith & Company of Utica, New York, manufacturers of compressed air sprayers since 1888. Together they modified an existing sprayer into the first purpose-built portable fire pump. The Indian Fire Pump was born.
A century later, almost every firefighter in America calls their backpack pump an "Indian Tank," regardless of who made it. That's not branding. That's legacy earned on the fire line, one season at a time.
Now manufactured by The Fountainhead Group, the Indian product line has expanded from a single galvanized tank to a full family of steel, poly, and collapsible systems. The common thread across all of them: all-brass pump construction that works when nothing else matters.
Why Every Indian Pump Is Built From Brass.
Every pump in the Indian line, from the FP100 Fedco to the FP300 Dual Action, is constructed from seamless brass cylinders. Here's why that matters on the fire line.
Corrosion Resistant
Brass doesn't rust. Fill from streams, ponds, ditches, or mud puddles. The pump performs the same on day one and day one thousand.
Temperature Stable
Plastic cracks in the cold and warps in the heat. Brass holds its tolerances across the full range of conditions you'll face on the fire line.
Bind-Free Operation
Two seamless cylinders with a precision guide bushing on the inner cylinder. No binding. No jamming. Smooth, reliable strokes under pressure.
Field Serviceable
Simple, proven design with replaceable parts. Rebuild a pump in the field. No proprietary tools. No factory service required.
Dual-Mode Nozzle
Switch instantly between focused straight stream for distance and wide fan spray for coverage. No tools required. Adapt on the fly.
Built to Last Seasons
While plastic pumps get replaced every season, brass pumps last for years. Lower total cost. Higher reliability. Zero compromise.
Ready in Three Steps
Choose Your System
Steel tank for maximum durability. Poly for lightweight rust-proof performance. Collapsible for crews that need to pack light and move fast.
Order Through Your Dealer
Indian Fire Pumps are available through authorized fire equipment dealers nationwide and direct from The Fountainhead Group.
Deploy With Confidence
No learning curve. No break-in period. Fill, strap on, and go. Your crew is equipped with a century of proven fire suppression.
What Firefighters Say
"We've carried Indian Tanks on every wildland deployment for the last 15 years. When you're miles from the engine on a ridge line, this is the tool that keeps a spot fire from becoming a disaster."
"The brass pump is indestructible. I've seen plastic pumps crack in the cold and warp in the heat. The Smith pump just works. Every time."
"We switched to the SmokeChaser Pro for our hotshot crew. The MOLLE system, the padded straps, the dual-action pump. It's a serious step up. And it still rolls up to fit in our cache."
Without the Right Pump
- Spot fires grow unchecked while waiting for engine support
- Plastic components crack, leak, or jam at the worst moment
- Crews lack confidence in their tools, slowing response
- Cheap replacements mean buying the same pump twice a season
With Indian Fire Pumps
- Attack fires in their earliest stage, before they grow
- All-brass pumps perform reliably in every condition, every season
- A system for every scenario: rigid, collapsible, poly, steel
- Equipment that lasts for years, backed by a century of trust
Frequently Asked Questions
An Indian Fire Pump is a portable backpack fire pump used in wildland fire suppression. First manufactured in 1925 by D.B. Smith & Company for the U.S. Forest Service, it features an all-brass hand pump and is available in galvanized steel, stainless steel, poly, and collapsible tank configurations. The brand is now manufactured by The Fountainhead Group, Inc. The name "Indian Tank" has become the generic term used by firefighters for any backpack fire pump.
Brass is corrosion-resistant, temperature-stable, and bind-free under pressure. Unlike plastic pump components that crack in cold or warp in heat, brass maintains its tolerances across extreme conditions. Brass pumps are field-serviceable with no proprietary tools and last for many seasons of use.
Indian Fire Pumps come in four categories: Steel Tanks (90G galvanized at $295.99 and 90S stainless at $483.99), Poly Tanks (FER500 at $244.99 and FER501 at $207.99), SmokeChaser and Collapsible systems (FSV500, Chief DBL500, SmokeChaser Pro, and more, ranging from $244.99 to $329.99), and Accessories including carry racks and replacement pumps.
Indian Fire Pumps are available through authorized fire equipment dealers nationwide and direct from The Fountainhead Group at our official online store.
Indian Fire Pumps are manufactured by The Fountainhead Group, Inc. The brand originated in 1925 when U.S. Forest Service District Forest Ranger Ernest Blue worked with D.B. Smith & Company of Utica, New York to create the first purpose-built portable fire pump.
Equip Your Crew With the Name That Started It All.
For a century, Indian Fire Pumps have been the first tool firefighters reach for. Steel tanks, collapsible backpacks, poly systems, and all-brass pumps. Your crew deserves the original.