Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport’s (CSMIA), Aerodrome Rescue & Fire Fighting Services (ARFF) conducts a Firs Service Week in the interest and well-being of passengers and personnels at the airport. Fire Service Week is observed all over India from 14th April to 20th April every year in the memory of and to pay homage to those brave fire fighters who lost their lives while discharging their duties during the dock explosion at Mumbai in the year 1944. CSMIA’s ARFF Services will showcase its cutting-edge technology during the Fire Service Week.

As part of Airside Operations, the ARFF services plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of airport occupants in the event of aircraft accidents or incidents on or near the airport. The primary objective of ARFF service is to save lives in the event of any unprecedented situations and safeguard the lives with a response time of two minutes.

During the Fire Service Week, CSMIA’s ARFF team showcased several state-of-the-art technologies that are present at the airport, including the 07 Crash Fire Tenders (CFT) with unique characteristics that can fight fires when the vehicle is in motion. The CFT can throw extinguishing media up to 90 meters and has high acceleration of 80 kmph in 26 seconds, even though it weighs 40 tons. CSMIA is the only airport in Asia to have Rescue Stair that can reach up to a height of 8.3 meters and can support fastest evacuation of an aircraft as big as the A380. Additionally, there are two Small Fire Tenders, three Rescue Boats, one Forwards Command Post, and 67 types of equipment to counter different types of emergencies. The capacity of each CFT is 12000 litres of water, 1500 litres of foam compound, and 150 kg of dry chemical powder.

CSMIA has always prioritised undertaking preventive measures and has continued to maintain the highest level of safety and security for passenger and personnel equally. During the course of the Fire Service Week, the ARFF department will demonstrate its capabilities to handle emergency situations using advanced equipment and techniques.

CSMIA is also the only airport in India which constructed a life-size Dummy Aircraft in-house, to provide a real-life simulation and facilitate an ease in the training process. The airport also has three rescue boats that form part of ARFF resources to support and get the staff acquainted with the boat training every monsoon. The breathing apparatus carried by a firefighter lasts for 45 minutes in a smoky and toxic atmosphere, which along with a proximity suit, allows them to work in proximity to a fire of intensity of approximately 1400 degrees Celsius. The weight of the Personal Protective Equipment that firefighter’s wear is approximately 19 kg. ARFF team spends more than 10,000 man-hours on training CSMIA stakeholders on fire safety and airport emergency management throughout the year.

CSMIA spokesperson said, “Ensuring the safety of passengers and aircraft is our top priority, and CSMIA’s ARFF Services is fully committed to meeting the highest standards of emergency preparedness and response. We are proud to showcase our state-of-the-art technologies during Fire Service Week, which demonstrate our capabilities in effectively handling any emergency. Our highly trained and dedicated team of professionals work tirelessly to ensure that the airport remains a safe place for all those who use it.”

As CSMIA concludes its participation in Fire Service Week, the ARFF Services remains at the forefront of aviation safety and emergency response in India. With its state-of-the-art equipment, extensive training programs, and expertly trained personnel, CSMIA’s ARFF Services is dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of all those who pass through the airport. The department’s commitment to excellence in emergency response is a testament to its unwavering dedication to saving lives and preventing accidents.