Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
An in-house firefighting crew is set to begin serving the Gary/Chicago International Airport Sept. 1. The transition from city firefighters to the private airport-based firefighters was expected to begin in June. That deadline wasn’t met, so the airport authority approved an extension of an agreement with the city to provide airport rescue and firefighting services through Aug. 31.
About six to eight Gary firefighters are based at the airport daily. They’ll be replaced by new personnel who will be trained and certified. The change will be a cost-saver. Personnel still need to be hired and the Gary Fire Department is vetting applicants. The new hires will be cross-trained as not only firefighters, but as operations workers, as well and will staff the airport 24 hours a day and be considered AvPORTS’ employees. Revenue from a compact agreement with the city of Chicago will be used to support the fire and rescue staffing.
On Aug. 16-18, the airport will again serve as the staging site for the Chicago Air and Water Show.
thanks Dennis
