In September 2011, the City of Springfield announced the Fire Rescue Division would assume responsibility for the fire station at the municipal airport.City firefighters underwent special training in aircraft emergencies in anticipation of the handover from the Ohio Air National Guard.
The city also announced plans to assume responsibility for the airport control tower from the military. Together, the changes will cost the city about $760,000 in the first year, according to the Springfield News-Sun.
The airfield's Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Index Rating is "A" - meaning it requires one crash truck to operate under Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. The index is based on aircraft size and the average daily number of departures. The ARFF index rating for the busier airport at nearby Dayton is "C" requiring two to three crash trucks.
With the airport, the Fire Rescue Division will now have responsibility for eight fire stations - seven within the city limits and the station at the airport, which is located about about two miles south of the city limits on State Route 794.
The 1,800-acre airfield, formally named Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, features two runways and operates primarily during daylight hours. Its airport code is SGH. The airport commenced operations in 1946.
“The airport is a huge economic development tool and it has great potential for job growth,” City Manager Jim Bodenmiller told the Springfield News-Sun. Bodenmiller also said officials asked the military to transfer its airport equipment to the city.
Some airports, such as Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio, depend on private contractors, such as Rural/Metro Corp., to provide emergency services. Rural/Metro assumed responsibility for Port Columbus from the Columbus Fire Division in 1995.
