How much do you know about YYC’s Pro-Tec team?

Pro-Tec Fire Services provides Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) services here at YYC. The main objective of the ARFF service is to save lives in the event of an aircraft emergency at the airport or aerodrome. In this context, an aircraft firefighting service is a contingent resource tasked with the primary responsibility of providing a fire-free egress route (exit route) for the evacuation of passengers and flight crew following an aircraft accident.

However, the ARFF service also responds to various types of emergencies on the airfield in addition to aircraft incidents, such as fuel spills and medical calls. At YYC, the Pro-tec team includes a Fire Chief who works Monday through Friday and four platoons providing 24/7 coverage 365 days per year. Each platoon consists of one Deputy Chief, one Captain and four firefighters.

The Authority is responsible for ensuring that YYC meets all ARFF requirements outlined in Transport Canada regulations. One of the many requirements is to ensure a minimum number of ARFF vehicles in service, which maintains our Crash Fire Rescue category. We are required to have three ARFF vehicles in service, but we have a total of five, including our newest ARFF vehicle, RED 6, which joined the fleet in April. Our primary response vehicles are RED 6, 1 and 5, with the two remaining vehicles being reserved for when mechanical issues arise on the front-line units. Just like your personal vehicle, ARFF vehicles need to be regularly maintained and some maintenance requires an ARFF vehicle to be taken out of service.  

Did you know?

• ARFF vehicles are designed for one person to drive and operate. We also have a medical unit, RED 9, for responding to airside medicals and medicals on-board aircraft.
• We are required to respond to the mid-point of our farthest runway from the firehall within three minutes! To ensure we meet this requirement we conduct a response test on an annual basis and report to Transport Canada. Aircraft Rescue Firefighters go through extensive training and recurrent training every year and take part in regulatory exercises on a regular basis.
• We have two Boeing 737 aircraft on-site for the firefighters to use for ongoing training and exercises.