119th Wing Receives Funding to Build Fire Station

By Capt. Penny Ripperger, 119th Wing Public Affairs / Published November 07, 2008

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Maj, John C. Gibbs, the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, pulls a rope with a weight on the end as part of a fire fighter obstacle course Nov. 6 in the North Dakota Air National Guard fire hall on the east edge of the Hector International Airport runway, Fargo, N.D. The obstacle course is an annual fire fighter fitness testing requirement to demonstrate fire fighting readiness and capabilities. (NDANG photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp) (Released)

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Tech Sgt. Tad R. Brown, a 119th Civil Engineer Squadron fire fighter, carries a ladder during a timed fire fighter fitness test Nov. 6 in the North Dakota Air National Guard fire hall on the east edge of the Hector International Airport runway, Fargo, N.D. The fitness test is an annual requirement for the fire fighters and includes various obstacles designed to simulate challenges that they might encounter during fire fighting and fire victim rescue attempts. (NDANG photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp) (Released)

Fargo, N.D. -- The North Dakota Air National Guard, 119th Wing Fire Department will receive $7.5 million to build a new 21,400 square-foot crash/fire/rescue station at their air base in Fargo. The new facility will be shared by military and civilian response crews in support of Hector International Airport.

The funding is a result of an Air National Guard fire station initiative in which $28 million was authorized and appropriated in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriation Act. The act facilitates construction projects for National Guard fire departments in response to the Security Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, (Public Law 110-329).

Fire stations located in Mont., N.C. and Utah also received appropriations from the initiative.

This state-of-the-art facility supporting Fargo area airport fire fighters and the N.D. Air National Guard is exactly what is needed to allow them to continue to provide their outstanding fire fighting and suppression services to all flight operations," said Gov. John Hoeven. "This new facility will meet the firefighting needs of all of the anticipated future expansions of the airport. This is a clear example of our N.D. National Guard and communities working side by side to benefit their community."

"We are appreciative of the support by our elected officials in securing funding for this new joint-use facility," said Maj.Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, adjutant general for the N.D. National Guard. "Working together with their civilian counterparts, the dedicated men and women of the 119th Wing will continue to ensure the safety of passengers, crew and aircraft from fire threats at Hector International Airport. We appreciate every opportunity we have to train and operate in a joint military and civilian environment."

The North Dakota Air National Guard Fire Department has the responsibility to respond to all military and civilian aircraft emergencies at Hector International Airport.

The Air National Guard Fire Department and the City of Fargo have a reciprocal mutual aid agreement, which allows either to request assistance from the other when response capability is overwhelmed by events, explained Chief Master Sgt. Mark Solem, 119th Wing Fire Chief.

"This is not only a great opportunity for the North Dakota Air National Guard, but also for the city of Fargo as we continue to expand our relationship working jointly to better serve the people of North Dakota,"
said Dennis Walaker, Fargo Mayor.

The new station will ensure that the men and women of the North Dakota Air National Guard will continue to provide aircraft rescue and fire fighting services in accordance with federal aviation administration requirements, said Shawn A. Dobberstein, Executive Director of the Municipal Airport Authority.

"Our community would not have schedule air service if we did not have a strong partnership between the Happy Hooligans and Municipal Airport Authority. This relationship continues to benefit our community and surrounding region," Dobberstein added.

Construction of the new crash/fire/rescue station is expected to begin spring 2009.

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