As seen around … O’Hare « chicagoareafire.com

As seen around … O’Hare

This from Josh Boyajian:

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago FD O'Hare Airport mobile communications van

Josh Boyajian photo

Tags: CFD O'Hare Airport firefighting, Chicago FD O'Hare Airport fire trucks, Chicago Fire Department at O'Hare Airport, Chicago O'Hare Airport Fire Department, Josh Boyajian, mobile command post for O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Airport Fire Department

This entry was posted on October 11, 2015, 7:00 AM and is filed under Fire Truck photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

15 Comments (and one trackback)

#1 by Drew Smith on October 21, 2015 - 3:47 PM

BMurphy: All solid points.

The provision of ARFF at Indexed (commercial) Airports in the US is governed by the FAA as mentioned but those federal regulations are based on a premise that the ARFF vehicle will provide a “rescue path” and that the flight crew will facilitate evacuation. There is no requirement that there be a certain number of personnel to effect rescues or operate hand lines, it is implied which results in each airport doing what they want. By each airport I mean the airport operator. In many cases that is a commission or board not part of any municipality or county.

I know of larger airports where ARFF is only ARFF and all other fire suppression on the airport is provided by municipal FFs which may or may not be located on the airport or be trained in ARFF. Many of these airport ARFF departments do not provide EMS or non-ARFF response even to the rest of the airport.

At many smaller indexed airports the ARFF “FFs” are actually operations personnel (ground crew if you will) who staff the ARFF vehicles when needed. In many of these cases the actual IC will be a structural chief from the municipality where the airport resides. I have had some of the operations personnel tell me they don’t get out of the rig ever because they are the only person on duty and all they do is drive the rig, that they take direction from the municipal chief if it’s an actual crash or fire.

I say all this not to pass judgment but to share info. Thing are not always as they seem. Fly into a large commercial airport (O’Hare, Phoenix, Atlanta, LAX) and you will get a different level of service than at some smaller regional airports who may not have any dedicated ARFF (even contract FFs) and use the ops people.
- #2 by BMurphy on October 21, 2015 - 6:31 PM
  
  Chief- Great points as well! It is an ‘interesting’ situation out there to be sure. I know it seems utopian, but it would certainly benefit the safety of commercial air travelers and associated personnel if some sort of minimum standards for staffing were realistically developed and made mandatory. Perhaps some day it will, albeit sooner, I’m sure, than for municipal departments. Love the cool rigs and all, but it’s the people that do the good work. Thanks for the great insight!
#3 by BMurphy on October 21, 2015 - 3:43 PM

Math Correction- 3 minutes equals 180 seconds. I’d better go review my kid’s math books (or school laptops).

Apologies to any mathmaticians out there!
#4 by BMurphy on October 21, 2015 - 3:33 PM

I wanted to clarify a few items about ARFF protection (as related to my previous post) at commercial airports, as if you search the Internet or work at an ARFF facility, you’ll become or will already be aware of some significant issues with airport ARFF protection in the US:

*To correct an earlier point- the FAA uses a 3 minute (120 second) response rule, which requires the first ARFF vehicle to arrive at the MIDPOINT of an operational runway in this timeframe. 90-seconds is incorrect regarding FAA certification requirements.

*NFPA recommends (strongly) that the first appropriate ARFF vehicle arrive within 90 seconds to ANY operational area of a runway, not just the midpoint. I am not certain if the CFD follows the FAA requirements or NPFA recommendations. I won’t try to speculate, as that’s unfair without verifiable data, but (as a frequent air travler) I HOPE that they follow NFPA guidelines.

*The FAA does not specify any minimum staffing guidelines, only the 3-minute runway midpoint rule and the number of ARFF vehicles and water/foam carried based on an airport’s operational Index level (and a few other operational regulations).

*ARFF protection levels (response time and staffing levels) are a controversial issue for airport operators, airlines, pilots, and air travelers. There are many high-profile, busy US airports that fall very far below what NFPA (and common sense) guidelines specify for basic-level crash/fire/rescue protection. It’s a real eye-opener, especially when you look at the hazards present, as well as what travlers pay in airport operational-related taxes and fees.

I will say that I’m quite certain O’Hare and Midway thankfully exceed staffing levels recommended by NFPA and other groups.

If you travel by air, you should see for yourself what help is and is not available in the event of an incident at an airport. It’s a real eye-opener.
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#5 by Brian on October 13, 2015 - 12:19 PM

http://www.e-oneinprocess.com
#6 by Mike on October 13, 2015 - 11:55 AM

Any chance to repost that link for the Towers from Emer-one thanks, doesnt work for me anyway.
#7 by Bill Post on October 12, 2015 - 6:28 PM

Thanks for the reply BMurphy.
#8 by BMurphy on October 12, 2015 - 5:05 PM

In response to Bill Post’s post (!): the runway on the south end of the airport Bill refers to is already completed and will be officially opened to traffic this Thursday, October 15. Runway 10R/28L is a bit south of ORD/CFD Rescue Station #1. Only speculation, but most likely the FAA and CFD have already done trial runs to all 10R/28L runway operational areas to ensure that the 90-second response requirement can be met from Rescue #1. If unable, then the runway would not have received FAA-certification for commercial air carrier use, and another station or arrangement for ARFF response would have been provided.
#9 by David on October 12, 2015 - 4:46 PM

@Shaan smith: Thanks a lot for the info, just checked the “in production” site and found a coupla pics of the cabs being built, great to see they already started to work on the rigs, hope the Rosenbauer Squads will follow soon..
- #10 by Shaan smith on October 12, 2015 - 6:58 PM
  
  Yup no problem
#11 by Bill Post on October 12, 2015 - 3:40 PM

Any news on a new fire station for O”Hare. yet? I understand that at a minimum Rescue station 2 will have to be replaced as a new runway will be built practically next door to it.
Another new runway is also scheduled to be built on the far south end of the airport, but I don’t know if they are planning to build another new station on the far south end or not. Anyway at least one or possibly more new stations will have to be built. I really have no other information however.
#12 by Shaan smith on October 12, 2015 - 1:05 PM

Chicago Fire department new e-one tower ladders are in production go to http://www.e-one in process.com there is two of them in production
#13 by Crabby Milton on October 12, 2015 - 12:34 PM

#7 is one fine looking PIERCE rig. Would love to see the inside since it probably has every thing including waffle iron.
#14 by Josh on October 12, 2015 - 10:16 AM

Yes we had a great opportunity on Saturday to shoot them.
#15 by Bill Post on October 12, 2015 - 1:36 AM

Those are great shots Josh thanks for submitting them. I take that the shots were recently took (since the Squad was rehabbed)?