New Vehicle For Brac Airport Fire Services Department

Deputy Director of CAA David Frederick (l), Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dennom Bodden, and Director of CAA Richard Smith in front of the newest edition to the Brac fire truck fleet.

Friday, November 21, 2003

The Cayman Brac Fire Department at the Gerrard Smith Airport will receive a new US$480,000 Oshkosh T-3000 fire truck this month, funded by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

"This new fire truck now enables the fleet in Cayman Brac to meet the minimum requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)," said Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dennom Bodden.
"It replaces a 22-year-old Chubb Protector which no longer meets the automotive requirements to provide quality fire service at the Island's Airport Fire department."

The ICAO sets the requirements for airport fire service vehicles. Currently, all vehicles must be able to go from zero to 50 in 40 seconds and maintain a top speed of 62mph.

In October, two fire officers went to the Oshkosh factory in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to inspect the vehicle before it was shipped to Cayman. The T-3000 was manufactured according to the exact needs of the Brac's fire services.

The truck is capable of carrying 3,000 gallons of water, 420 gallons of foam, and 500 pounds of the supplementary dry chemical agent Monex, which is used to fight fuel fires.

In total, there are now six Oshkosh-produced fire trucks used by the Fire Services Department, one in Little Cayman, three in Grand Cayman, one in Cayman Brac and the new vehicle. Oshkosh is the biggest producer of fire trucks and provides "quality equipment with easy maintenance," according to Mr Bodden.

The Director of Civil Aviation, Richard Smith, said that the CAA provided funding for the new fire truck for the Gerrard Smith International Airport to ensure the facilities remained compliant with international standards and recommended practices.

"The CAA is committed to the safety of aviation in the Cayman Islands and is obligated to ensure that the required facilities are made available," said Smith.

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