After years of having to share a building in Conroe with the growing number of employees, the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office has moved. Thursday they hosted an open house at their new location on the grounds of the Lone Star Airport in Conroe. The new office also serves as the airport crash/rescue station for the airport. It is equipped with an Oshkosh Crash Truck. If an incident were to occur on the airport the crash truck could be on the scene within 3 minutes. They would be assisted by trucks coming from Conroe Fire Department. They are equipped to handle crashes, fires, fuel spills and any other emergency that could exist with an aircraft. With the airport growing, it was desperately needed. Currently the U.S. Customs Air Unit calls Lone Star Airport home as does the U.S. Army Reserve Helicopter Unit and PHI Air Medical.
In addition the bomb disposal unit and command truck are now able to be housed inside at the station and be readily available for any type of regional response. Just recently they have responded to the Brazos County Courthouse after someone reported a bomb threat, the Conroe Walmart, after a suspicious back pack was left behind. Also the Liberty County Courthouse for a bomb threat. The truck is equipped with two robots capable of lifting ten pounds. If a device were found an operator can control the robot from within the command vehicle and place the device in the explosion proof container towed behind the command vehicle. Joe Manz, an Assistant Fire Marshall is one of the bomb experts. He has done extensive training both in the US and Canada. His bomb dog Echo is trained to sniff out explosives and alert Manz.
Also housed are the offices of Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams and his assistants. A training room, a room to educate juveniles on the dangers of playing with fire.
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