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Air Rescue Company |
AIR RESCUE
COMPANY ESTABLISHED: April 17, 19731973 1001 Westbrook Street, at Portland International Jetport.
In 1958, Fire Chief Carl P. Johnson started recommending to the City Council improvements for fire protection at the Portland Airport, because of ever increasing air traffic and general airport hazards.
In 1961, a used 1953 American LaFrance crash truck was purchased through Civil Defense, which was surplus equipment at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine. All P.F.D. companies on first alarm assignment to the airport (Engines 3, 4, 6, 8, Ladders 3 and 6) received training, and one officer from each company attended a coarse on aircraft firefighting at the Brunswick Naval Air Station. This was the airport's first fire protection. A wooden one-bay shed was built to house a truck on airport property.
In 1972, construction began on a new 5-bay 1-story fire station, built on the airport proper located at 1,001 Westbrook Street. It was completed in the spring of 1973, and opened on April 17, 1973, called The Crash Station. One-Officer and three-Firefighters were assigned to the station per/shift. The airport was opened to traffic from 06:00 to 23:00. At 24:00 the crew responded as a squad unit to all working fires and desk boxes city wide, and for a while, ran out of the Bramhall Square Station between 24:00 to 06:00 hours. A new 42-hour workweek schedule went into effect, creating a 4th platoon in 1974.
On September 9,1988, Squad 1 was phased out, and the Air Rescue Company was permanently stationed at the Jetport 24 hours a day because of F.A.A. regulations and to maintain the Jetport’s Class-3 rating.
The use of the name “Crash” Station/Crew was changed to Air Rescue Station/Company in 1989.
In 1999, the Air Rescue Co. Captain was assigned as the daily administrative officer, working weekdays with the Jetport’s Administration. Because of this, a 4th Lieutenant was appointed to cover the 4th shift.
ASSIGNED APPARATUS1961-1976 1953 American LaFrance Crash truck, purchased through the Maine civil defense from Loring Air Force Base.
In service - 1961
Out of service - 4/30/1976 (replaced by new 1976 Walters CT-1500, Crash Unit # 1)1970-1988 1947 Mack (old Engine 3, a 750-gpm Quad) rebuilt into a 1,500-gallon water/foam tanker with a 50-gallon foam tank (rebuilt in the P.F.D. shop)
In service - 4/ /1970 (as Foam Tanker # 1) (1977-as Red 4)
Out of service - 6/07/1988 disposed of.1970-1977 1957 Ward LaFrance MB-5 Crash truck purchased from Navy surplus at Brunswick Naval Air Station and reconditioned.
In service - 7/ /1970 (as Crash Unit # 1)
Out of service - 7/ /1977 (replaced by new 1977 Walters CT-1500, Crash Unit #1, Red-2)1970-1977 1957 Marmon-Harrington MB-5 Crash truck purchased from Navy surplus at Brunswick Naval Air Station and reconditioned.
In service - 1970 (as Crash Unit # 2)
Out of service - 19771974-1977 1965 Ford 600-gallon tank truck with a 500gpm pump
In service - 1974 (as Tank Truck # 6)
Out of service - 1977(reassigned to Peaks Island)1975-1992 International 1-ton chassis and a American LaFrance body quick- response truck, carrying a duel-agent of 450 lbs. of Purple-K and 3% Light Water AFFF foam.; (Command vehicle)
In service - 5/20/1975; (arrived 5/16/75 as Red-2, 1977 as Red-3, 1989 as Air Rescue 3)
Out of service - 1/08/1992 (spare Red-5 with 5,000' of 4" hose) (1997-to Public Works)1976-1988 1973 Chevrolet crew-cab truck used as a manpower squad truck.
In service - 1976
Out of service - 9/09/19881976- Walters CT4-1500 Airport Crash Truck with a 1,000gpm pump, 1,500-gallon water tank, and a 180-gallon foam tank with 3% AFFF (2-diesel engines, one each for road and pump)
In service - 4/30/1976 (Crash Unit # 1 or Red-1) $113,829
Out of service - 5/06/1988 (1988, painted FAA color, lime yellow)
Back in service - 8/08/1988 (1991, reassigned as Air Rescue 4 or Red-4)1977- Walters CT4-1500 Airport Crash Truck with a 1,000gpm pump, 1,500-gallon water tank, and a 180-gallon foam tank with 3% AFFF ( 2-diesel engines, one each for road and pump).
In service - 7 /1977 (Crash Unit #2 or Red-2, 1989-reassigned as Red-4). $170,000
Out of service - 7/29/1991 (1991-rebuilt and repainted FAA color, lime yellow)
Back in service - 9/16/1991 (assigned as Air Rescue 1 or Red-1)(1988) A Loaned Oshkosh P-4 ARFF truck from the U.S. Air Force was put in service temporarily in place of Red-1 while it was being rebuilt, so the Jetport was able to keep it’s rating.
In service - 5/13/1988
Out of service - 6/13/1988 (returned to U.S. Air Force)1989 - Oshkosh T-3000 Airport Crash Rescue Truck with a 1,800gpm pump, a 3,000-gallon water tank, and a 400-gallon foam tank with 3% AFFF (2-diesel engines, one-road, one-pump)
In service - 8/01/1989 (Air Rescue 2 or Red-2, 90% FAA funds)
Out of service1992- 1991 Chevrolet 3500 1-ton chassis with a Hughes Utility body, carrying 450 lbs. Purple K, Hurst Tool, other emergency tools/equipment, and EMS equipment. (Command vehicle)
In service - 1/08/1992 (Air Rescue 3 or Red-3)
Out of service -1999- 1995 Chevrolet Lumina sedan (Air Rescue Co. Administrative Captain, Red-5)
In service - 1999 (Red-5)
Out of service
* Each of the on-duty (3 or 4) firefighters, including the Officer, are assigned to drive/operate 1 of 4 air rescue vehicles when responding to an alarm. The Officer is assigned to the command vehicle, Red 3.
The primary responsibilities of firefighters at the Air Rescue Station is Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) at the Portland International Jetport. Qualified ARFF firefighters must demonstrate skill and knowledge in this specialty branch of firefighting to meet standards established by the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA). The Portland Fire Department currently has sixteen ARFF qualified personnel. Three firefighters and one Officer are assigned per shift.
The crew is responsible for the emergency readiness of the four Jetport ARFF vehicles. We have three foam vehicles that have pump-and-roll capability. Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) is the primary agent for fighting the flammable liquid fires that are the major threat to life in aircraft incidents and accidents. Our largest foam vehicle has the capacity of 3,000 gallons of water and 450 gallons of foam. This unit, Red 2, also has 500 pounds of Halon for snuffing aircraft engine fires. We have smaller twin crash vehicles, Red 1 and Red 4 that carry 1500 gallons of water and 150 gallons of foam, The fourth vehicle, Red 3 is a quick response truck with the fire suppression capability of 450 pounds of PurpleK® dry powder. Red 3 is equipped with a medic kit including an automated external defibrillator. Red 3 is also outfitted with various cutting and lifting tools.
ARFF personnel respond to non-aircraft fire and medical emergencies at the Jetport, and conduct fire and safety inspections for airport structures and facilities, aircraft parking areas, and the aircraft fueling vehicles. Over 1,000 inspections were conducted by Jetport firefighters in 1998. Jetport firefighters oversee fire drills at the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), and offer portable fire extinguisher training for Jetport employees and the employees of Jetport tenants.
It is the responsibility of the Air Rescue Captain to keep up-to-date the comprehensive Emergency Response Plan for the Jetport. This plan incorporates the resources of the Portland Fire Department, mutual aid from neighboring communities, and federal/state agencies for responses to Airport emergencies. The plan is tested annually with either a table-top exercise or a mock disaster. In 1998, the goal of the live drill was to test the ability of the EMS system to handle a large scale incident. The drill included 97 patients. Tentative plans for 1999 include a drill to focus on radio communications and water rescue.
The Air Rescue Station officers maintain communication with Jetport management and tenants on day-to-day matters and on longer range planning for the Jetport on issues regarding safety and emergency response.