Aircraft Rescue

Mission

The Airport Rescue and Firefighting Station is responsible for aircraft emergencies that occur at the El Paso International Airport. The Station is located on airport property and is staffed 24 hours daily. In addition to aircraft emergencies, the crew responds to medical emergencies at the terminal and inside the perimeter of the airport. Other types of incidents include fuel spills, accidents, hazardous materials incidents, and calls for assistance.

The first aircraft firefighting vehicle is required by the Federal Aviation Administration to reach the midpoint of the furthest air carrier runway in less than 3 minutes upon notification of alarm by the Air Traffic Control Tower.

Personnel & Station

Airport Fire Station operates 24 hours a day/7 days a week. There are 3 shifts of firefighters which rotate. Firefighters work an average of 56 hours per week.

Staffing - The airport station is staffed with a minimum of 6 personnel on-duty for the Aircraft Firefighting vehicles and another 2 personnel for the Medic unit. The Airport Fire Station is staffed by El Paso Fire Department firefighters. The majority of these firefighters are structurally certified.

Vehicle Descriptions

ARFF 1 - 2017 Oshkosh Striker Aircraft Firefighting Vehicle
Unit has a snozzle, which offers the unit the ability to apply water, foam, and Halotron from various heights without exposing the firefighter and vehicle to dangers associated with hazardous cargo, fuel, and heat that may accompany an aircraft incident. Attached to the snozzle is a piercing nozzle, which may be used to pierce the skin of an aircraft and expel agent to the interior. A thermal imager is also mounted on the snozzle. This allows the firefighter to locate the source of the fire in an aircraft allowing precise application of extinguishing agent on the fire.

Agents

1500 gallons water
210 gallons Aqueous Film-Forming-Foam (AFFF)
460 pounds of Halotron I

ARFF 2 - 2012 Oshkosh Striker Aircraft Firefighting Vehicle

Agents

1500 gallons Water
210 gallons Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)
500 lbs Dry Chem

ARFF 3 - 2000 Oshkosh TI-3000 Aircraft Firefighting Vehicle
Unit has a snozzle, which offers the unit the ability to apply water, foam, and Halotron from various heights without exposing the firefighter and vehicle to dangers associated with hazardous cargo, fuel, and heat that may accompany an aircraft incident. Attached to the snozzle is a piercing nozzle, which may be used to pierce the skin of an aircraft and expel agent to the interior. A thermal imager is also mounted on the snozzle. This allows the firefighter to locate the source of the fire in an aircraft allowing precise application of extinguishing agent on the fire.

Agents

3000 gallons Water
420 gallons Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)
460 lbs Dry Chem

R-ARFF 1 - 1999 Oshkosh TI-1500Aircraft Firefighting Vehicle

Agents

1500 gallons Water
210 gallons Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)
460 pounds of Halotron I

ARFF 4 - 2017 Ford 550 Crew Cab pickup (Twin Agent Unit)

Tools and Agents

150 gallons of Premix 3% Foam
450 lbs of Potassium Bicarbonate (Purple K)
medical supplies
forcible entry tools
saws
thermal imager
self-contained breathing apparatus
Met L X Portable Extinguisher
Halotron Portable Extinguisher

ARFF 5 - 2012 Ford F250 pickup
Primarily used as the on-scene Incident Commander until the arrival of the Battalion Chief. Carries forcible entry tools, SCBA, Airbags, medical equipment.

ARFF 6 -2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab pickup

Tools

medical supplies
forcible entry tools
saws
rescue air bags

ARFF 7 - 2006 16 Passenger van
used for administrative purposes.

ARFF 8 -2016 Ford F250 pickup
Battalion Chief of ARFF.

R32 -2015 Ford F450 Ambulance
Medical ALS Unit - two personnel assigned and carries medical equipment for ALS medical emergencies.

RR32 -2009 Ford F450 Ambulance
Reserve Medical ALS Unit - two personnel assigned and carries medical equipment for ALS medical emergencies.