Reno Tahoe Airport Fire and Reno Fire join forces

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) -From their fire station firefighters here at the Reno Tahoe Airport are reminded daily of just what their duty is.

That's because they can see planes take off and land throughout their shifts.

From time to time, we've shown you exercises should the unimaginable happen. Firefighters must use special equipment and gear to fight a fire and save passengers should a plane crash occur.

But typically, crews respond to emergencies here at the airport itself like accidents or heart attacks.

"In 2018 the Reno Tahoe Airport Board decided to be an all hazard all response fire department," says Chief Todd Ingalsbee with the department. "With that being said, we would increase our response to EMS calls, fire calls, on top of all the airport calls. Airport crashes etcetera."

But when the crews found themselves responding to one call, and another emergency call would come in, they would ask Reno Fire to step in for mutual aid.

Some would call it inefficient and say there's a better way to serve the community.

That's the reason the Airport Fire Department and Reno Fire will soon consolidate.

"With this new combined resource, we will have at the end, we will be able to respond seamlessly as far as the community is concerned to anything," says Chief Dave Cochran with Reno Fire. "On or off the airport with all the resources needed."

Chief Cochran says no one will be losing their job.

Airport Firefighters will soon be employees with the city of Reno. And the consolidation gives firefighters in both agencies the ability to expand their skills.

For airport firefighters it may be a move in town where they can fight more structure fires. For Reno firefighters a chance to be on the front lines and respond to what could be a major disaster. Airport firefighters and Reno firefighters will be joining forces officially beginning in February 2025.

Starting Monday, November 18, 2024, auto aid takes place. That means if an emergency occurs, the closest available fire station will respond as opposed to whose jurisdiction it is.