Decatur, Ill., Airport Debuts New Fire and Rescue Vehicle

With relative ease, the piercing nozzle apparatus of the new Oshkosh 3000 fire and rescue trucks punctured the metal material and began spraying water.

Had this been an actual airport emergency, water or some other flame retardant would have worked quickly to douse the flames inside the airplane.

Fortunately, the scene Tuesday at the Decatur Airport was a demonstration of what the new equipment could do if such an emergency were to occur here.

The Decatur Park District received an $800,000 federal grant to purchase and equip the state-of-the art fire and rescue truck. It replaces a 1978 fire vehicle which will continue to be housed at the airport.

The 2006 model weighs 87,000 pounds and can accelerate from zero to 50 mph in 35 seconds. It can reach a top speed of 70 mph. It does this while carrying 3,000 gallons of water, 420 gallons of foam and 500 pounds of a special chemical used to fight aviation fuel fires.

The power behind its ability to perform multiple functions rests with 600 horsepower engine made by Caterpillar Inc.

"I think we made a good product with a Caterpillar engine, but more important is it sends a great message to all those employees in Decatur that people in the community value what we do," said Rod Bussell, who was on hand for Tuesday's unveiling.

Bussell is vice-president and general manager Caterpillar's Mining and Construction Equipment Division which is based in Decatur.

Bussell said the C16 model CAT engine was made at the company's plant near Peoria and produces 1,950 foot-pounds of torque. It's this power that enables the truck to perform tasks simultaneously.

"That is important with an application like this for firefighters to be able to protect themselves, get into an airplane and still have enough power to escape if necessary," he said.

Five firefighters provide 24 hour coverage at Decatur's airport as required by Federal Aviation Administration. Each firefighter has put in more than 100 hours of training to operate the truck, said Airport Director Gene Marcinkowski.

Tim Wright, aircraft rescue firefighting supervisor at the airport, said it was crucial to have on-site firefighting abilities at the airport.

"What needs to take place in the event of an aircraft emergency or incident is that firefighters need to respond within the three minutes," he said.

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