Airport Rescue Fire Fighting

The IAFF Department of Fire & EMS Operations/GIS is dedicated to providing IAFF members with current information related to fire and EMS operational issues. This web page is specific to Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) and includes information on issues of concern for IAFF members involved in ARFF.

House Moves to Strengthen Airport Fire Fighting
September 21, 2007 – The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation strengthening current fire safety standards at airports. The FAA Reauthorization Act, H.R. 2881, was passed by a vote of 267-151. As passed, the bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to bring Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) standards into conformity with existing national consensus standards. Read more...

National Incident Management System (NIMS)
The development and release of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) is a direct result of Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-5, issued in February 2003. HSPD-5 directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop, submit for review to the Homeland Security Council and administer a National Incident Management System. HSPD-5 states that a common incident management system is needed to provide “a consistent nationwide template to enable federal, state, local, tribal governments, private-sector and nongovernmental organizations to effectively and efficiently prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size or complexity, including acts of catastrophic terrorism.” Read more...

NFPA 403 - Standard for Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Services at Airports Enters Revision Cycle
The next ARFF document slated for revision will be NFPA 403 - Standard for Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Services at Airports. The comment closing date is 8/31/2007. Read more...