by Mike Sanders mnsand@comcast.net

Two new Oshkosh Striker crash trucks have been delivered to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority – Dulles International Airport. The Airports Authority operates the airports at Washington (Reagan National Airport) and Dulles Airport. Dulles Airport is located at the border of Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

The new Oshkosh Strikers run as Foam units 352 and 302. Foam Unit 352 was initially assigned to Fire Station 302 and then moved to the brand new Fire Station 304. This station is located near a new runway that just recently opened in November. Foam Unit 352 is a 2008 Oshkosh 6×6 Striker 3000 equipped with a 1950 gallon per minute pump, 3000 gallons of water and 420 gallons of foam.

Foam Unit 302 is very similar to Foam Unit 352, with one very noticeable difference – it is equipped with a 50’ Snozzle that includes a piercing nozzle that can penetrate an aircraft body and flow water, foam, etc. Foam Unit 302 is assigned to Fire Station 302, a very large 11 bay crash and fire station located near the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum. The museum is called the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and is a companion facility to the Air and Space museum on the National Mall in Washington D.C.

The two new Oshkosh Striker crash trucks join a large apparatus roster from three stations at Dulles Airport. Other apparatus include additional Oshkosh crash trucks, two KenWorth tractor trailer units, two Pierce engines, three monster medic ambulances, and a variety of specialty units.