FIRE & RESCUE

The Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Dept. protects an area of 10 square miles — through which millions of people pass annually. As a result, airport rescue squads respond to more than 1,000 emergency calls a year, including hundreds of advanced life support runs and trips to area hospitals.

To stay prepared, the airport employs 59 fire fighters, all of whom are trained emergency medical technicians. Two dozen of them are licensed paramedics.

Airport firemen work 24-hour shifts every three days. The typical fireman spends up to four hours a week in fitness training.

Physical workouts are just one part of the training. Candidates must have 400 hours of basic fire training before applying at the airport. Once hired, they undergo continual training, which averages dozens of hours per person each year.

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