b'48 DECEMERGENCY RESPONSEDecatur Airport Builds New Facilityfor Firefighting and Maintenance Teams BY PAUL NOLANNo one had to convince Airport Director Tim Wright thatAirport leaders and the Decatur Park District, which owns Decatur Airport (DEC) desperately needed a new aircraftand operates DEC, opted to address both needs with one rescue and firefighting (ARFF) facility.project, and built a combination ARFF/snow removal equipment He began his career at DEC as a firefighterand maintenance facility. Construction of the centrally located back in 2004 and was well aware that its28,600-square-foot building was completed this July, and airport 1960s-era fire station was outdated.firefighters and maintenance workers moved into the new facility Wright was promoted to fire chief andin August. It is a single-story structure that reaches 21 feet at its then airport operations manager beforeeaves, plus a mezzanine area. being named airport director in 2014. So he knew the fire station unfortunately wasntTIM WRIGHT Long Time Comingthe only antiquated facility at the commercial airfield. Its snowThis is a project we have been seeking for more than 11 years, removal equipment facility was also outdated and insufficient toWright relates. Both of the old facilities were bursting at the seams. accommodate the Illinois airports growing needs.But were focused on operating cost-effectively. Instead of paying for the construction and upkeep of two different buildings, this was October 2023AirportImprovement.com'