Airport Dedicates New Fire Station

click on photo to expand
from top: The Striker and its Snozzle; the control panel and joysticks; underbody foam nozzles.

Photos by Jay Thompson

(posted Jan 19)

Robert Duncan's remarks at the airport's new fire station dedication ceremony were music to homeowner's ears. No property taxes were used to build the Airport Authority's $6 million fire station. IAA Executive Director Duncan noted the station was built with federal grants and airport funds.  Duncan was one of the dignitaries that spoke at the January 18 dedication as more than 150 people filled the apparatus bay to hear speeches and to admire the state of the art facility. The new station matches the architectural design of the new midfield terminal scheduled to open late this year.

The fire station is just one unique aspect of the total airport operations, but without it, the airport could not function. Firefighters have a three minute response time to meet FAA guidelines; therefore, its airport location is critical. Although the old fire station location near FedEx continues to meet the response requirements, the new location makes it easier to reach the ends of the runway and the new terminal.

Fire Chief Rick Gentry said the older fire station will remain in operation and will be renamed station two after 34 years of being station 1.

The station is designed to fill the trucks with water and foam while inside the bay. According to firefighter Ben Williams, the old station required firefighters to roll out barrels filled of foam to be pumped into the trucks outside.  Because the trucks carry more foam than water, it can take four loads of water to dispense one tank of foam.

The fire truck that grabbed the most attention is the "Striker", manufactured by Oshkosh. Thomas Carle of Oshkosh explained the fire truck has the ability to drive over rough terrain and park on a 30 degree slope without rolling over. The Striker's job is to provide a safe path for passengers to leave a burning plane. With its infrared camera, it allows firefighters to maneuver through thick smoke. The glass enclosed cab is used to provide better visibility when approaching a plane to extend the Snozzle, the 50 foot boom with its dual use nozzle capable of spraying the exterior of a plane or penetrating the skin and spraying Halotron inside the cabin.

The dry chemical commonly found in fire extinguishers, Purple K, is sprayed out inside a stream of water. The water serves as a protective coating to the dry chemical so it does not disperse in the wind.

Oshkosh designed the Striker to provide firefighter safety that includes an escape hatch if the truck becomes engulfed in flames. It also spreads foam from underneath the vehicle because even though the fire may be out driving over the jet fuel can reignite the fire as the tires expose the fuel to oxygen again.

During the hour long dedication luncheon, firefighters were dispatched on two runs. Last year, the fire department was dispatched to 1,036 calls from car accidents and structural fires to EMS runs.

The IAA is also building a new communication center to handle dispatching for all airport operations. The current dispatch center is in the former United Airlines Maintenance Center because it out grew its facility at the old fire station. IAA Communications Manager Andrew Burnett calls it the nerve of the airport. He said the dispatch facility is responsible for more than just fire, EMS and police runs. It also is in charge of airport operations, including building and premise security. The facility is expected to open in May.