Reno Fire's airport station, Station 15, welcomed a new piece of equipment Wednesday morning, replacing a truck that was 20 years old.
The aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle, or ARFF, is a state-of-the-art truck with next generation technology. Officials say it will enhance the fire department's ability to fight fires in aircraft emergencies and prioritize the safety of passengers and staff.
Safety is our most important mission, not only for the firefighters, the for the public, for the traveling public, for our community," said RFD Chief Dave Cochran. "This gives them the ability and the tools to respond to those emergencies as safe manner as possible and as effective a manner as possible."
Getting the ARFF truck to its new home has taken about two years, beginning before RNO and RFD formed their interlocal agreement 18 months ago, and cost more than $1 million. More than $911,000 was provided by the Federal Aviation Administration with the help of Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez-Masto and Congressman Mark Amodei. The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority contributed nearly $214,000.
"When you think about all of the activity, we have here, 5 million passengers a year roughly going through the airport, we want to make sure we provide them with state-of-the-art protection," said Chris Jensen, Interim President and CEO of the airport authority. "This new fire truck represents exactly that."
The truck is equipped with a firefighting foam that is more environmentally friendly than traditional options, and marks RNO as one of the first airports in the nation to transition to it.
Reno Fire welcomed a new aircraft rescue truck to the fleet.
