New facility enhances rescue and firefighting capabilities at Joplin Regional Airport

Joplin officials on Thursday celebrated completion of the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Facility at the Joplin Regional Airport.

The new building is located near the control tower on the east edge of the airport property. Gated access to them is off Colonial Drive at the deadend of Webb City’s Aylor Street.

Until now, the personnel and equipment were located in a hangar that was too small on the west side of the airport.

In case of an emergency alert from the control tower, high-speed garage doors open for instant response by trucks made specifically for airports.

The Oshkosh Striker P-19s accelerate faster than normal fire trucks. “They’re made to get out there and get the job done,” said James McBryde, operating supervisor.

McBryde, who has been on the job 19 years, said the role of rapid first responders is to provide an avenue of escape for occupants of the plane and keep the fire down until firefighters and emergency medical technicians arrive to put out the fire and treat the victims.

“In a critical situation, it is important for airport staff to have immediate access to these essential pieces of equipment, so this centrally located fire station is a great asset,” said Airport Manager Allison Zahner. “Airport personnel must be able to respond to an incident on the field in a matter of seconds.”

In addition to storing two Strikers, the new building has a separate space for the airport’s snow removal equipment, as well as office and living areas.

Crossland Construction was the contractor for the $8,681,710 project. Of the total, $8,226,537 (roughly 95%) was provided by two Federal Aviation Administration grants.