By Paul Tackett
Tulsa World (Oklahoma)
Copyright 2007 The Tulsa World

TULSA, Okla. — New trailer boasts state-of-the-art features, expands BA fire department's rescue response capabilities.

When the call for help comes, Broken Arrow Fire Chief Dennis McIntire and his firefighters are willing and prepared to answer it. With the recent arrival of their new regional response trailer -- or mobile fire station, in layman's terms -- they believe they're more prepared than ever.

Funded with a federal grant, the trailer will come in handy when the department provides regional assistance, such as in the aftermaths of hurricanes and other disasters, McIntire said.

"(Hurricanes Katrina and Rita) would have been a time we possibly could have used the rescue vehicle," McIntire said. "It's a tool we will be able to utilize not only to help the citizens of Broken Arrow but everyone in the state of Oklahoma when there's anything major."

Deputy Fire Chief James Suddath said 20 trailers were created -- 12 for hazardous materials and the rest for technical rescue. Broken Arrow's is a technical rescue trailer, he said. Ada Fire Department received the first technical rescue trailer, Broken Arrow the second, he said.

With the trailer expanding their capabilities, department officials created a new position: firefighter specialist. /Firefighter specialists will train for rescues including high angle, confined space and swift water.

"Getting this rescue truck has increased our training and our capacity to deliver service to the public just by all the hours of training," McIntire said. "We are excited to be able to deliver a higher level of service."

Suddath said the department could use the trailer, for example, to provide assistance to an area following a tornado. The $500,000 trailer comes with several features, including a satellite dish, which allows global communication via satellite; the ability to automatically level itself by use of a computer system; a 25-foot tier of lights, which like the dish, is deployed by computer; and a forward command post. The dish can lock in with local Doppler radars and receive live footage of weather in the area.

"Weather can affect rescue operations," Suddath said.

The trailer has sensors that can detect strong winds, retracting the dish and lights when necessary, he said. Fire departments in Wagoner County and the surrounding area are encouraged to come and train with the trailer.

"That's so in the event we do get a call, I'm not just taxing the firefighters of Broken Arrow," Suddath said, adding that other departments can provide backup.