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The airport's big, new ally
<<Sounds of fire truck operating>>
Narrator Says:
While aircraft incidents at King County International Airport are rare, an emergency requires lightening response when it does happen.
That’s why the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighters at the airport are ready to respond around the clock in case of emergency.
And just recently, they gained a sizeable ally to assist in that effort.
Meet the newest addition to the station, a 43-foot-long, 10.5-foot-wide, 81,000-pound fire truck, with a 750-horsepower diesel engine.
KCIA Fire Fighter John Vanderwalker Says:
This is a brand-new, 2008, Oshkosh Striker. It's a 3,000-gallon aircraft fire rescue vehicle specifically designed by Oshkosh for aircraft rescue. It's unique in that it has the aerial capability of the Snozzle metal-piercing tip.
The Snozzle is an extremely unique and very aggressive fire-fighting tool. As you can see because of the 3-feet length on that we can pierce into the side of an airplane, or the top of a plane into a cargo compartment very aggressively.
And we have a thermal imager that will help us identify the hot spots in a plane so that we can get the water through the skin of the plane to where it's needed. There's also a camera, a live camera TV shot that helps us to correctly place the Snozzle into the hot spot on the side of the plane. It's all hydraulically actuated; it all runs off the engine. It's an amazing tool that we hope we never have to use.
<<Sounds of firefighter radioing.>>
Narrator Says:
In addition to the 3,000 gallons of water, the striker can hold 440 gallons of fire-fighting foam and 500 pounds of dry chemical.
The FAA requires an emergency response within three minutes of an incident’s occurrence, and the airport’s new truck, even when fully loaded, can reach about 70 miles per hour.
And when the truck does arrive at a fire scene, it’s very versatile in the ways it can begin addressing possible problems.
KCIA Fire Fighter John Vanderwalker Says:
So depending on the need, we can spray as we approach, we can vary the spray, we can sit here in a big circle and get a lot of things wet. And all of this with the truck in a tight turn. And note the stability here on the grass.
Narrator Says:
The new Oshkosh striker replaces a truck that has been at the department since 1973, and will serve alongside a 1,500 gallon Oshkosh that’s been in service at the airport since 1993. [All] equipment that will ensure quicker response to any future incident at the airport.
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