DFW AIRPORT, Texas (May 11, 2026) – Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) today celebrated the opening of its new East Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Station, part of more than $130 million invested in next-generation ARFF response infrastructure through the airport’s capital improvement plan, DFW Forward.
The facility replaces two fire stations that have served the airport since it opened more than 50 years ago, marking a significant upgrade to infrastructure that supports emergency operations across one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs. DFW was ranked the fourth-busiest commercial airport in the world in 2025, and third in total aircraft movements with more than 743,000 flight operations last year.
“DFW serves as the global gateway and economic engine for North Texas, and the completion of this project celebrates DFW’s commitment to our long-term vision for growth, while ensuring we maintain the highest standards of safety for our customers, employees and community,” said Vernon Evans, Chair of the DFW Airport Board of Directors.
DFW’s $130 million ARFF modernization program consolidates four existing stations into two centralized east and west facilities, improving response coverage, resiliency and operational efficiency. The new West station is expected to open later this year. The program is being delivered through a design-build partnership led by JE Dunn Construction and PGAL and is supported by more than $75 million in federal funding secured over multiple years through the FAA Airport Improvement Program and additional federal support. These investments are critical in the development of next-generation emergency response infrastructure at DFW.
“Safety is part of our DNA,” said Chris McLaughlin, DFW Airport’s Chief Executive Officer. “We build our safety culture through a multi-layered approach that emphasizes training and preparedness, by making significant investments in infrastructure, and by equipping the dedicated members of DFW’s Department of Public Safety to operate at their peak every day. As we approach serving 100 million passengers annually by the end of the decade, this investment ensures our teams can respond immediately, operate safely, and meet the demands of a high‑volume, global airport.”
To maximize response coverage and positioning across the airfield, the new station includes 10 apparatus bays with high-speed, multi-fold doors that open in seconds, enabling the simultaneous deployment of multiple ARFF vehicles. The facility also includes 21 dorm rooms, dedicated training and fitness space, and specialized support areas for hazardous materials, decontamination and equipment storage, ensuring crews can respond and reset quickly during sustained operations. Built to ICC-500 standards, the station includes an F5-rated storm shelter and hardened infrastructure designed to maintain continuity during extreme conditions.
“The design of this facility enhances our ability to maximize performance when it matters most, and with these investments, our teams have the tools, proximity, and environment they need to perform at the highest level,” said Daniel White, Chief of DFW Fire-Rescue. “We have better positioning and the ability to move multiple units concurrently, which means faster deployment to any number of airfield emergencies.”
The station is one of several recent investments strengthening safety and security across the airport. DFW is also modernizing its fleet with hybrid ARFF vehicles that are faster, more agile and designed for new fluorine-free firefighting foams. The new Striker Volterra vehicles can accelerate from 0 to 50 mph in approximately 21 seconds, reducing response times compared to legacy equipment, and helping crews respond more quickly across DFW’s nearly 27-square-mile campus.
Additionally, the airport today unveiled its new Mobile Command Post, a 40-foot, fully integrated unit equipped with advanced cameras, satellite connectivity and multi-agency radio interoperability, allowing teams to manage incidents in real time from anywhere on or around the airfield. The nearly $3 million custom vehicle is designed and constructed to operate independently for approximately two days, and enhances coordination between airport operations, first responders and regional partners.
“Coordination is just as important as capability. DFW has invested in leading-edge technology and enhancements to ensure we are built to respond at the speed, scale and complexity required to support an airfield of this magnitude,” said Jerome Woodard, DFW’s Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. “This new station and integrated capabilities build on DFW’s connected approach to safety, aligning infrastructure, technology and real-time communication.”
Together, these investments ensure DFW is built for the future, supporting growth at one of the world’s busiest airports and across the North Texas region.
About Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is one of the most connected and busiest airports in the world. Centered between owner cities Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW Airport also serves as a major economic engine and job generator for the North Texas region. The airport’s historic $12 billion capital plan – DFW Forward – is set to transform the customer experience and plan for the future with monumental upgrades and expansions underway across DFW’s terminals, airfield and roadway infrastructure.
For more information, visit the DFW website or download the DFW Airport mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Follow @dfwairport on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
