New Facility and Equipment – a Critical Part of BHM’s Commitment to Safety
BIRMINGHAM, AL (November 29, 2022) – A new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station and new ARFF trucks were unveiled to the community today at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. The new facility and trucks, together with First Responders, are the cornerstone of BHM’s emergency readiness.
At a ribbon-cutting and unveiling ceremony this afternoon, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin joined Board members of the Birmingham Airport Authority, project contractors, architects, Birmingham Fire and Rescue, and the airport staff to celebrate the completion of this major project.
Similar to other fire stations in Birmingham and across the U.S., the ARFF station is home base for the men and women who will respond to emergencies. In this case, they are uniquely positioned and specially trained to save lives and property should an aircraft incident or other emergency happen at the airport. AT BHM, ARFF services are provided by Birmingham Fire and Rescue. These emergency responders live at the station when they are on-duty.
“Our commitment to safety at BHM is second to none,” said Darlene Wilson, Board Chair of the Birmingham Airport Authority. “This new building is a testament to the way we take care of the community, visitors, tenants, and those who are out there doing the hard work every day,” said Wilson.
The ARFF Station
Here are some of the highlights of the new ARFF station:
• Building is 17,548 Sq feet
• Total cost: $12.4 Million with 78% of project funded through federal grants
• Four bays to house ARFF trucks and equipment
• Sleeping quarters for 7
• Men’s and Women’s locker rooms
• Kitchen and dining area
• Laundry room
• Watch room which allows those on duty an unobstructed view of the airfield
• Training and exercise rooms
• PPE storage
• Gear wash/drying and decontamination room
The ARFF Station Project
The new ARFF station was designed by Architect Clay Dorsey of Birmingham. It was built by Construction Works, Inc. (CWI), a general contractor based in Atlanta. Both of these companies are minority owned and are DBE certified. DBE stands for Disadvantage Business Enterprise which is a federal designation that was established to help traditionally disadvantaged businesses compete for major transportation projects. This represents a milestone at BHM in terms of the level of minority participation in a major project. But it’s no accident. Members of the Birmingham Airport Authority Board are continually striving to encourage minority and DBE participation in construction projects.
“We couldn’t be more proud of the way this project came together and the diligent work that was done by these companies,” said Wilson. “The airport continues to be an economic driver in this community, offering opportunities for businesses large and small.”
The ARFF Trucks
The Birmingham Airport Authority has purchased two new fire trucks that will be housed in the ARFF station.
The 6×6 Rosenbauer Panther:
• Total cost – $895,184
• 85% of the total cost was funded through federal grants
• Height – 12’4”, Width – 10’, Length – 33’5”
• Weight – 50,000+ pounds
• On board foam testing system
• Roof mounted Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera system; pan and tilt
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Posted: Dec 3, 2022
The city of Watertown Fire Department needs a new ladder truck, WWNYTV.com reported. A fire official said that both of its ladder trucks are having mechanical problems at the same time.
The city currently has one truck in service. However, there is an issue with the hydraulics on the ladder, causing firefighters to be instructed not to climb it. A second ladder truck owned by the city is also out of action at the moment. Although it’s ladder may be working, the rear suspension and axles on truck two are not, the report said.
A brand new truck is on its way, but is not scheduled to arrive until December of 2023, the report said. In the meantime, the Watertown Fire Department has relied on help from its neighbors when it battles a blaze atop a tall building, according to the report.
The fire official said if they get a call on a structure fire that sounds like there could be any need for a ladder truck, they call for mutual aid immediately, the report said.
Watertown City Council is proposing a resolution to buy a used ladder truck from the city of Geneva for $40,000, saying public safety is a priority in the city. Council members are expected to agree to the purchase, according to the report.
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Posted: Dec 3, 2022
A special Giving Tuesday celebration took place in western Kentucky Tuesday. The Mayfield Fire Department, Paducah Fire Department and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation came together to celebrate grants given to both fire departments, KFVS12.com reported.
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation donated $49,983 to the Mayfield Fire Department to replace 18 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which were destroyed by the devastating tornado that hit the city nearly a year ago, the report said.
This included coats, pants, jackets, helmets, gloves and boots.
The Mayfield Fire Station took a direct hit from the EF4 tornado on December 10, 2021.
Some of the damaged gear is being replaced thanks to a donation from a local sandwich shop, the local franchise Firehouse Subs in Paducah.
In a released statement, Mayfield Fire Chief Jeremy Creason said of the grant: “We’re so grateful to Firehouse Subs and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for being there for our community when we needed them the most – and for our citizens to know that those tasked with protecting them are well-equipped to do the job.”
The foundation also gave $23,801 to the Paducah Fire Department grant for a new Polaris Ranger 1000, the report said.
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Posted: Dec 2, 2022
An icy accident Wednesday afternoon caused upwards of $35,000 in damage to two fire trucks, according to Sioux Falls Police.
The initial accident happened near 19th Street and Southeastern Avenue around 1:15 p.m. when a dump truck slid down the hill and hit a power pole, DakotaNewsNow.com reported. The impact knocked down a power line, which landed on a nearby home and started a small fire on the roof, the report said.
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue extinguished the fire. However, while crews were still on scene, a parked SFFR pickup slid down the hill, hitting a parked car and a tree. The parked car then slid and hit two fire trucks on scene, the report said.
Damage to the fire pickup is estimated at $10,000, while damage to the parked car is estimated at $20,000, according to the report. One of the fire trucks received roughly $15,000 in damage. The second fire truck’s damage is estimated at $20, the report said.
All vehicles except the dump truck were unoccupied at the time. No injuries were reported.
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Posted: Dec 2, 2022
Voters in a small Hancock County town will head to the polls in February to decide on if the volunteer fire department should get a new $3.9 million station, BangorDailyNews.com reported.
A referendum vote in Orland is scheduled for February 1 to see if residents are interested in borrowing $4 million to replace the current aging station, which can barely fit the department’s fire trucks and has severe drainage issues, the report said.
Built in 1974, the station sits on a flat, low-lying lot that makes it prone to flooding and difficult to clean off engines, according to the report. It also lacks an exhaust system or washroom for the force’s approximately 25 firefighters to clean up before heading home.
A public meeting to go over the plan is scheduled at the town community center December 15.
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