The Philadelphia Fire Department’s Engine 78, located at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), is anticipating the addition of two brand-new vehicles to its fleet. Trucks Foxtrot 7 and Foxtrot 10 should arrive this summer. Joining the current fleet of six vehicles will be a new Oshkosh striker, a major crash vehicle, which has already been designated as Foxtrot 7. The current Foxtrot is a backup truck that is used when one of the frontline trucks goes out of service for preventive maintenance or any other mechanical issue. When the new Foxtrot goes into service, one of older frontline trucks, a 1997 Oshkosh Legacy striker Foxtrot 8, will be retired.  

The current Foxtrot 8 is a first-generation striker, combining some computerized functions with mechanical features. The new truck is a completely new concept, as global strikers are now more computerized. This is Engine 78's fourth global striker, with three currently in service.  

The new Oshkosh global striker truck is a six-by-six major crash truck that can containing 3,000 gallons of water, 450 gallons of fluorine-free foam, and 50 pounds of dry chemical.  Foxtrot 7 has a High Reach Extendable Turret or HRET, which allows it to pierce airplanes, if needed.

“The new Foxtrot 7 in our fleet increases the capabilities to allow engine 78 to respond more efficiently to aircraft emergencies,” said Fire Chief Kamau Bright.  

The second truck, Foxtrot 10, is a Spartan 85-foot quint fire truck that will replace the older Foxtrot 10 structure fire truck. A quint serves as both an engine pumper and a ladder truck. It has a pumper for water, as well as an 85-foot aerial ladder that enables the members of Engine 78 to climb up to some of the airport’s tallest buildings and aircraft in response to emergencies.  The new truck will also provide firefighters with a more advanced tool for fighting interior fires onboard aircraft or inside the airport. Foxtrot 10 also responds to alarm systems and fire calls received from the terminals. The new truck will enable crews to do so more efficiently and with modern technology. The current Foxtrot 10 will be retired from the fleet once the new one arrives. “It is important to constantly improve Fire Safety measures. And I would like to express my appreciation to the airport for allowing us to obtain new apparatus,” Bright said.