Port of Seattle Donates Fire Truck to Snohomish County Airport

Fire truck to be stationed at Paine Field

(Seattle)--A Port of Seattle fire truck from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will soon be heading north on Interstate 5, to enter new service protecting aviators at Snohomish County Airport. The Port of Seattle Commission on Tuesday approved donation of the truck for use at what is commonly called Paine Field.

The vehicle, a 15-year old Oshkosh model T-3000, has been in reserve service at Sea-Tac for the last 7 years. It carries 2 firefighters and 3000 gallons of water, along with enough chemical additive to produce a foam blanket the size of a football field.

"As a major international airport, we need to have the most modern front-line equipment possible," said Port of Seattle Fire Chief Michael Mandella. "But the equipment we phase out is still very appropriate for use at an airport handling fewer aircraft and passengers."

The Port previously donated two fire trucks to the Washington State Fire Training Academy in North Bend.

"We're very happy that we can make serviceable equipment available for other important uses," Mandella said.

Though there hasn't been an aircraft accident at Sea-Tac Airport since 1997, the fire trucks continue to get plenty of use. The Port of Seattle Fire Department provides structural firefighting protection for Sea-Tac buildings, and occasionally responds to neighboring jurisdictions needing specialized assistance.

The agreement with Snohomish County requires that in a dire emergency, the Port could request return of the fire truck.