Malmstrom firefighters kick new tires

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dillon White
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Malmstrom firefighters received a new fire truck Feb. 23, called the Rapid Intervention Vehicle, to provide rapid response to aircraft fires.

The Air Force Space Command Fire Protection Office purchased the trucks for Malmstrom Air Force Base and F.E. Warren AFB to support helicopter operations; they are the first bases to receive the vehicles Air Force wide.

The new trucks provide aircraft rescue firefighting capability in accordance with
National Fire Protection association standards, which the fire department's current structure fire pumpers do not meet, said Daniel Dodson, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron deputy fire chief.

"Firefighters will train on the vehicle extensively to be fully certified to operate it," Mr. Dodson said. "We will have quarterly exercises involving simulated helicopter fires. Also, each firefighter will fight fire with the truck in our live-fire training pit annually."

The truck is equipped with a bumper mounted turret controlled by a joystick that can cover an entire aircraft in 200 pounds of dry chemical, 450 gallons of water or 50 gallons of foam without shifting the vehicle into park.

"We call it 'pump and roll,'" said Tech. Sgt. Jesse Pellot, 341st CES firefighter. "The fighter joystick and turret lets the crew roll right up on the aircraft and hit it immediately. It really expands our capabilities; it's great."

Not only can the RIV arrive at the fire quickly and spray fire retardant to clear an escape route for the flight crew, it can circle the aircraft after the crew is out of the aircraft and extinguish fires on all sides.

The firefighters manning structure-fire pumpers can roll out hand lines, or fire hoses, and assist in dousing flames while rescue crews remove passengers.

Senior Airman Shawn Flood, 341st CES firefighter, who has already driven the RIV and regularly drives the department's structure fire pumpers, said it is similar to his personally owned vehicle.

"It's just like driving a big truck," he said. "It's built on a [Ford] F-550 frame, so it's smaller and quicker. It's good."

All firefighters at the Malmstrom fire department will train to fight fires from the RIV and all 5-level and 7-level firefighters will be licensed on the vehicle.

The truck has an expected service life of 12 to 15 years and may be kept in service for more than 20 years.