When Protection Means Everything

Thunderstorm

250–500 Gallon options
24HP WATERAX pump
NFPA Compliant tanks
USA Built in Sioux Falls
Standard Build

Every detail, included.

Included features

  • Choice of WATERAX pump with a 24 HP Honda engine
  • 250-gal lightweight, corrosion-resistant G3 Fire copoly polypropylene tank -- limited lifetime warranty
  • 1" booster reel with manual rewind
  • 3-piece Elkhart valves with NH thread and ball control handles
  • Tank-to-pump line with valve — 2" (high pressure) / 2.5" (high volume)
  • 3-gal fuel tank with G3 Fire copoly mounting bracket
  • Push/pull control rod for tank to pump
  • Field-replaceable pump — quick-release pump end clamp for easy maintenance Stainless steel manifold
  • Expandable discharge manifold with garden-hose discharge/drain — (1) 1.5" gated valve (HP) / 2.5" × (2) 1.5" gated wye (HV)
  • Liquid-filled gauge on discharge manifold
Spec your unit

Build your Thunderstorm.

47 Heiman Fire Equipment · Built to order since 1947
Powered by WATERAX

WATERAX® pump.
Your choice of attack.

Every Thunderstorm runs a WATERAX pump paired with a 24 HP Honda on a powder-coated base — with a field-replaceable “HOT SWAP” pump end. Spec it high-pressure for reach and elevation, or high-volume to move water fast. Heiman has run WATERAX for three decades — stocked, serviced, and built into our apparatus.

Configuration 01

High Pressure

For reach, elevation, and long hose lays. 2″ tank-to-pump line; expandable discharge manifold with (1) 1.5″ gated valve plus garden-hose discharge/drain.

Configuration 02

High Volume

For moving water fast at the source. 2.5″ tank-to-pump line; 2.5″ × (2) 1.5″ gated wye to feed multiple attack lines.

The two we mount most

Our go-to WATERAX pumps.

The pumps we spec on most Thunderstorm builds — and you can buy them on their own through our equipment catalog.

High Pressure · 4-Stage WATERAX BB-4®

The wildland workhorse — high-pressure, lightweight, the pump departments build their initial-attack rig around. Our most-mounted Thunderstorm pump.

Buy online
Mid-Range · Pressure + Volume WATERAX B2X™

Best of both — combines pressure and volume for interface and wildland ops. Honda or Briggs Vanguard power on a low-maintenance drive-belt system. Ideal for slip-on and slide-in units.

Buy online
Not every job needs it mounted

Just need the pump?

Run these WATERAX pumps on their own — no slide-in required. Buy standalone from our equipment catalog, or talk to Kiela, our WATERAX liaison, to spec the right one.

  • HOT SWAP pump endQuick-release clamp — field-replace the pump end without tearing down the unit.
  • 24 HP Honda engineReliable gas power on a powder-coated base.
  • Enclosed control panelOption: on/off start, low-pressure override, vernier throttle, choke, low-oil light & LED shield.
  • Stocked, serviced, installedCertified WATERAX repair and parts on the shelf in Sioux Falls — days, not weeks.
Explore our WATERAX program →
Why Heiman

Family-built. Field-proven.

1947

Three generations of fire service

Heiman has been outfitting fire departments since 1947 — when our founder, Jack B. Heiman, started selling fire protection out of Aurelia, IA. Same family. Same standards.

USA

Built in Sioux Falls

Every Thunderstorm is fabricated, assembled, and tested in our Sioux Falls shop. NFPA-compliant G3 Fire® MAGNITUDE copolymer polypropylene tanks. Limited lifetime warranty.

SVC

Service that's actually local

Our shop is your shop. Certified pump repair, SCBA testing, electronics diagnostics — all in-house. No shipping your unit back to California when something needs attention.

Ready to build yours?

Tell us what you need. We'll spec it, quote it, and build it.

Request a Quote