The Tulsa Fire Department will be leaving the fire station at Tulsa International Airport next year after at least 50 years on site.
The Tulsa Airport Authority awarded a five-year contract to Wisconsin-based airport fire and rescue contractor Pro-Tec. Tulsa Airports CEO Alexis Higgins said the change had nothing to do with the Tulsa Fire Department’s performance.
"It had everything to do with our need to really address a budget concern that back in March, we really didn’t know the impact of, and where we are today seven months later and we still see the impact in reduced revenues. And I still don’t think we know how long that is going to be the case," Higgins said.
Higgins said fire and rescue service through the Tulsa Fire Department cost $1.9 million this year, their biggest expense aside from airport employees. The Pro-Tec contract is $875,000.
Higgins said the fire department was invited to bid and she met multiple times with Chief Michael Baker, who could only whittle down costs to $1.3 million.
"We have given the Tulsa Fire Department every opportunity to provide us their best cost, and I believe Chief Baker did everything he could do to get us the lowest possible cost that is structured around their policies in place today," Higgins said.
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum was the lone vote against the contract and asked Higgins to meet with the new firefighters union president for another round of talks. The authority decided to proceed with their vote because they would have to start the bidding process over again if they re-engaged with the fire department.
Pro-Tec handles fire and rescue at 22 airports. Five are considered similar to Tulsa International Airport for fire services, including Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City.
