"Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, Airport Puts Fire Station Where Action Is"

Friday, August 22, 2003

Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, Airport Puts Fire Station Where Action Is
The Fort Worth (TX) Star-Telegram


D/FW AIRPORT, Texas--When emergencies arise at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
terminals, emergency officers will spring into action from a new,
centralized station beginning next week.

With the opening of Department of Public Safety Station 5 on Tuesday,
emergency crews expect to reach the terminals in three minutes or less,
cutting a full minute off their response times.

"It's critical because 80 percent of our calls are to the central
terminals," D/FW Fire Chief Alan Black said. "In these calls, every minute
is a life-saving one."

This emergency management and fire station is expected to be the airport's
most active, officials said.

D/FW now dispatches emergency crews to the terminals from Station 1 on the
east side of the airport. Response takes four or five minutes and requires
officers to cross the east airfield.

Airport officials held a news conference Thursday to announce that Station 5
will be dedicated on the two-year anniversary of 9-11. New York emergency
personnel are expected to attend.

"The station is a finite way we can remember those sacrifices and commitment
to duty every day of the year," said Jeff Fegan, D/FW's chief executive.

STATION 5 AT A GLANCE: 23,500 Square feet of space to house state-of-the-art
equipment and dispatch computers 3 minutes or less for Station 5 crew to
reach the terminal 4 other fire stations are located in the airport's
perimeter.


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