LAKELAND, FL — February 12th — To enhance emergency response and accommodate increasing aviation traffic, the Lakeland Fire Department has permanently increased the number of personnel working around-the-clock in its ARFF-2 airplane rescue and firefighting unit at Lakeland Linder International Airport. The airport's fleet has included the equipment for a long time. By allocating committed staff members around-the-clock, the modification aims to increase reaction readiness without investing in new machinery.

Airports serving commercial flights are required by the Federal Aviation Administration to maintain certain ARFF response, equipment, and staffing levels. The change raises the minimum daily staffing for the department from 45 to 46. A partnership with Lakeland Linder International Airport is providing funding for the additional employment. To ensure operational stability and long-term compliance, department management have issued internal bids, promoted three Driver/Engineers, and want to hire more staff.