DFW AIRPORT, Texas — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport has opened a new East Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting station as part of a more than $130 million modernization effort aimed at strengthening emergency response capabilities across one of the world’s busiest airports.
Airport officials announced the opening May 11 as part of the airport’s broader capital improvement initiative known as DFW Forward.
The new facility replaces two fire stations that have operated at the airport for more than 50 years and is part of a larger program consolidating four existing stations into two centralized east and west response hubs.
According to airport officials, DFW ranked as the world’s fourth-busiest commercial airport in 2025 and third globally in total aircraft movements, recording more than 743,000 flight operations last year.
“DFW serves as the global gateway and economic engine for North Texas,” said Vernon Evans, chair of the DFW Airport Board of Directors. “The completion of this project celebrates DFW’s commitment to our long-term vision for growth, while ensuring we maintain the highest standards of safety for our customers, employees, and community.”
Officials said the airport’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting modernization program is supported by more than $75 million in federal funding through the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program and additional federal assistance.
The new East station includes 10 apparatus bays equipped with high-speed multi-fold doors designed to allow simultaneous deployment of multiple emergency vehicles. The facility also contains 21 dorm rooms, training and fitness areas, hazardous materials support spaces, decontamination facilities, and equipment storage areas.
Airport officials said the building was constructed to ICC-500 standards and includes an F5-rated storm shelter and hardened infrastructure intended to maintain operations during severe weather events.
“Safety is part of our DNA,” said Chris McLaughlin, CEO of DFW Airport. “As we approach serving 100 million passengers annually by the end of the decade, this investment ensures our teams can respond immediately, operate safely, and meet the demands of a high-volume, global airport.”
Officials said the airport is also upgrading its emergency fleet with hybrid ARFF vehicles capable of faster acceleration and designed for use with newer fluorine-free firefighting foam systems.
The new Striker Volterra emergency vehicles can accelerate from 0 to 50 mph in approximately 21 seconds, helping reduce response times across DFW’s nearly 27-square-mile campus, according to airport officials.
DFW also unveiled a new 40-foot Mobile Command Post equipped with advanced cameras, satellite communications, and multi-agency radio interoperability technology. Officials said the nearly $3 million vehicle is capable of operating independently for approximately two days and is designed to improve coordination during major incidents.
“The design of this facility enhances our ability to maximize performance when it matters most,” said Daniel White. “We have better positioning and the ability to move multiple units concurrently, which means faster deployment to any number of airfield emergencies.”
The airport’s new West ARFF station is expected to open later this year.
