Four new crash tenders at Brussels Airport

Four brand-new crash tenders have recently been put into service at Brussels Airport. These powerful fire engines can carry large supplies of  fire-extinguishing agents and are on standby 24/7 to respond rapidly to incidents at the airport. In addition, the airport has also purchased a simulator to train future drivers.

The four new fire engines have been specifically designed for rapid intervention on the tarmac. Each vehicle has a capacity of 12,500 litres of water, 1,500 litres of extinguishing foam and 225 kilograms of dry powder. One of the crash tenders is equipped with a piercing nozzle to inject fire-extinguishing agents directly into the cabin or hold of the aircraft.

Weighing no less than 39 tonnes, the crash tenders have a top speed of 115 km/h. This is essential, because if an incident occurs on the tarmac, the fire service must be on the scene within three minutes. To meet this timeframe, there are two fire stations at Brussels Airport, strategically located on either side of the airport. For emergencies in airport buildings, including the terminal, the maximum response time is five minutes.

Ready to respond day and night to ensure safety

Brussels Airport's fire service employs 150 colleagues. They work in shifts to ensure that firefighters are available 24/7, and can respond immediately to incidents. Fortunately, fires only rarely occur. The firefighters' tasks also include medical emergencies, fire alarms and preventive interventions whenever an aircraft reports a technical issue.

​Following the addition of the new vehicles, the airport fire service now operates a fleet of around 25 vehicles. These include six crash tenders, as well as ladder trucks, pumper trucks, an evacuation stair vehicle and a firefighting robot used to tackle fires in hard-to-reach locations.