A new $1.9 million crash tender has joined the ranks of the Barbados Fire Service at Grantley Adams International Airport, in the first of two major upgrades to the station’s emergency response capability.
The sixth-generation unit — Crash Tender 2 — was officially commissioned during a brief ceremony attended by fire service and government officials.
A second crash tender is expected to arrive from the manufacturer within the next two to three months, new home affairs minister Gregory Nicholls announced.
Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard hailed the arrival of the first unit as a significant milestone for the airport fire station.
“This evening is a very proud moment for me as the chief officer because we’ve just received one of the promised very important pieces of equipment, the crash tender here, Crash Tender 2 for the airport fire station, that was promised by the government of Barbados,” Maynard said.
Maintaining a rapid response time is crucial at GAIA, where officers are required to respond to emergencies within 90 seconds, he added.
“We know that at the airport it is critical that we have the relevant equipment working properly that we can respond within 90 seconds … to any emergency.”
Just days earlier, airport fire crews had responded to an emergency landing using existing crash tenders that are now more than 25 years old.
Chief Maynard said; “Not this new one that we are commissioning today, but the other crash tenders responded efficiently although they are well over 25 years. So that is what’s heartening…that we have a fleet of vehicles that can respond. [However] they’re getting old and therefore we need to replace them.”
He also underlined the importance of pairing training with modern equipment.
“As much training as you give your officers…if you do not have the relevant equipment in proper working order to respond when you need to respond, you will still fail in your efforts.”
The new crash tender has a capacity of 12 500 litres of water, 15 000 litres of foam and 250 kilograms of dry powder. It can project fire suppression fluids up to 110 metres from its roof.
Nicholls commended the fire service for maintaining its ageing fleet well beyond its recommended service life.
The minister said: “The ones that are in operation were last bought in about 2001, and you have been maintaining these tenders at the airport, and keeping them in service long beyond the time of recommended use. That is a testament to the hard work and the dedication and professionalism that you and your officers have provided.”
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding airport operations: “The government is committed to ensure that the system here at the airport is not compromised and your ability to respond to any emergency is effective and efficient.”
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