John Deere 6R 250 Fire Tractor: how an ag “workhorse” became specialized gear for forest and field fires

Climate change is making vegetation fires more frequent and intense, while access to ignitions in fields and shelterbelts is getting harder. Germany has unveiled an unusual solution: a fire-fighting setup based on the John Deere 6R 250 tractor with a 12,000-L tanker trailer, able to operate where conventional fire engines struggle. The vehicle was engineered by Rebo Sonderfahrzeuge for the volunteer fire brigade in Wismar (East Frisia, Lower Saxony) and is undergoing a year-long trial in real-world operations.

The base platform: what the standard 6R 250 can do

The 6R 250 tops the mid-size 6R line. It features a 6.8-L inline-six PowerTech engine delivering max 275 hp (ECE R120) with IPM boost, 2.90 m wheelbase, approx. 9.65 t weight, and the ComfortView™ cab (71 dB(A)). The AutoPowr™ (IVT) transmission is available, and the closed-center hydraulics deliver up to 160 L/min — handy for driving fire pumps and winches.

Some reports cite a ~301 hp peak with IPM active, aligning with load-dependent power management.

What firefighters added: modules, pump, monitors

Turning the tractor into an off-road fire system relies on modularity:

• Tanker trailer holding 12,000 L of water + 410 L foam concentrate.
• Fire pump up to 6,000 L/min.
• Three fire monitors (two front-mounted on the tractor, one on the tank), controllable and usable while driving.
• Thermal self-protection: front nozzles create a water curtain, fed from a ~500-L reservoir, shielding crew and systems if conditions shift abruptly.
• Front drum reel with up to 800 m of hose to reach remote spots.
• Winch with 80 m cable (pulling force ≈ 67 kN) and a dozer blade for clearing lines.
• Sandbag filling unit for flood response and building mineral fire breaks.

The project is designated GTLF-V 12000 (Großtanklöschfahrzeug – Vegetation) and is in pilot service with the local volunteer brigade. The concept allows quick module swaps for different missions — from wildland fire suppression to high-capacity dewatering during floods.

Where this outperforms classic fire engines

1. Traction and off-road mobility. Large ag tires, low pressure and suspended front axle improve grip on soft soils, stubble and field tracks.
2. Modularity. The tractor power unit works with a broad set of implements and trailers — from vacuum pumps to blades and winches — boosting versatility for emergency response.
3. Ergonomics and automation. Control via CommandPRO™ and G5 displays; IVT simplifies precise maneuvers along woodland edges and slopes.
4. Trade-offs: lower highway speed versus fire trucks, larger “tractor + tanker” footprint in tight urban areas, and the need for dedicated training for wildland operations.

Typical use cases

• Vegetation and forest fires. Delivering large water/foam reserves to field edges, laying hose lines hundreds of meters long, operating monitors on the move to hold the fireline.
• Field fires during harvest. High maneuverability on stubble, rapid creation of mineral fire breaks with the blade, supplying water to combines and pickup units with pumps.
• Flooding and high water. Hooking up high-throughput pumps to move water and quickly filling sandbags on site.

Key technical parameters (from public sources)

Base: John Deere 6R 250, 6.8-L I6, AutoPowr (IVT), hydraulics up to 160 L/min, ComfortView™ cab.

GTLF-V 12000 module: 12,000 L water, 410 L foam, pump up to 6,000 L/min, 3 monitors, thermal self-protection (nozzles + ~500 L tank), 80 m winch / ≈ 67 kN, hose up to 800 m, dozer blade; year-long pilot near Wismar.

What this means for Ukraine’s ag sector

For farms and communities where fields border shelterbelts and peat areas, a tractor-based fire module can be a “multi-tool”: during harvest — an on-field tanker and first responder; off-season — a municipal hauler with blade/brush; during floods — a platform for pumps and sandbag logistics. It’s important to train crews, choose the right tires, plan water supply, and fit the proper PPE and equipment.

Where to get spare parts and keep equipment mission-ready

Reliability depends on the base tractor and mounted equipment. In Ukraine, Bas-Agro LLC covers this need — a domestic manufacturer and supplier of ag machinery parts.

• The catalog includes parts for seeders, headers, combines, fertilizer spreaders, and sprayers across different brands, plus small-batch custom components — shipped nationwide from the warehouse store: https://bas.ua/.
• See a short warehouse video to gauge the range: https://youtube.com/shorts/Vyr0aNoLoIg.

In GTLF-V 12000 configuration, the John Deere 6R 250 shows how ag machinery enhances community safety: off-road mobility, large water capacity, modularity, and operator ergonomics make it highly effective on fields and woodland edges. For Ukrainian communities and agribusinesses, it’s a practical blueprint: with proper tires, modules and service, the platform can cover multiple missions — from firefighting to flood response.