RDU Goes Completely Safety Yellow Honoring the Fallen: Lt. Brent A. Upton - LODD 2019

Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) Airport placed new CFR 2 in service on May 2, 2023. The 2022 Oshkosh Global Striker3000 was delivered in March. It’s equipped with a 2000-gpm pump and carries 3000 gallons of water, 420 gallons of foam, and 550 pounds of dry chemical. It replaces a 2000 Oshkosh TI-1500, which will be placed in reserve as CFR 5. With the new delivery, the airport’s ARFFunits are all “safety yellow” forthe first time in 23 years. It joins a 2016 Oshkosh Striker3000 (CFR 4), a 2017 Oshkosh Striker 3000 (CFR 3), and a 2019 Freightliner/Pierce Responder(CFR 1). The airport fire station, built in 1986, was also modified to better accommodate the new truck. Two 12-foot bay doors were removed and the space was combined to create a larger25-foot bay door, where CFR 1 and CFR 2 are parked.

- Fire News photo by Mike Legeros

On May 6, 2023, at 2000, a minute of silence was observed at all Raleigh fire stations in honorof fallen firefighterLieutenant Brent A. Upton. Shown is Fire Station 22 on Durant Road. Lieutenant Upton died in the line of duty in 2019 and was honored that weekend at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, MD. His name was added to the memorial, along with 144 otherfallen firefighters. The tribute was repeated the following night, with each station darkened and all apparatus emergency lights activated.