Laughlin gets new fire truck

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Blake Mize
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  For the first time since 2006, Laughlin's Fire Department has obtained a new fire truck.
The USAF P-22 Contender Structural Firefighting Vehicle, which carries an estimated cost of $850,000, will benefit Laughlin and the surrounding community, said Master Sgt. Brian Brown, of the LFD.

"This truck will benefit the Laughlin mission and the Del Rio community greatly. Due to this truck being new, it allows minimal maintenance downtime due to constant vigorous use of the vehicle," he said. It allows the community to rely on our support for mutual-aid responses."

The P-22, which Sergeant Brown said is similar to only one other truck in LFD fleet, has a capacity to hold 500 gallons of water and 50 gallons of foam. The truck also has a pump that can generate 1,250 gallons per minute. Every fire fighter assigned to Laughlin will have a chance to be trained on the LFD's newest addition.

"This truck will have multiple drivers assigned due to fire fighters working 24 hours on, 24 hours off," said Sergeant Brown. "Each firefighter will be trained and licensed on this truck for ease to assign individuals to drive the truck daily."

The multi-purpose truck can not only be used to fight fires, but also as an emergency response vehicle because it has storage capability that most of the trucks at the LFD's disposal do not.

"Basically what they did was combine two trucks into one," said Ray Dunklin, also of the LFD. "It can be used for rescue and fire fighting missions."