Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has unveiled its first hybrid Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) fire tender, making the airport among the first in the US to deploy the leading-edge technology.
The new Oshkosh Striker Volterra is a six-wheeled, highly specialised vehicle designed exclusively to enhance aircraft firefighting response capabilities.
It features innovative hybrid drive technology that allows the 100,000-pound vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 50 mph in under 21 seconds – a 40% improvement over the current standard diesel Striker apparatus.
In electric mode, the Volterra significantly reduces fuel consumption and noise and produces zero emissions for station entry and standby, reducing firefighters’ exposure to exhaust fumes.
DFW’s fire rescue chief, Daniel White, said: “The Striker Volterra vehicles are faster and more agile than our current fleet. Because they are also safer for our firefighters and better for the environment, this investment represents a rare win-win-win, delivering operational benefits while ensuring the safety of our responders and the community we serve.”