An air carrier first officer reported that because the day airport rescue and fire fighting equipmen...

Narrative:

Ground control instructed us to taxi to runway 24L; cross runway 18; and included a wheels up time for our destination in approximately 10 minutes. We taxied as instructed and switched to tower frequency approaching the end of 24L. Tower then informed us that the airport's crash fire rescue equipment (crash fire rescue) was not available and that he would be releasing us in 1 minute and 4 seconds to our destination. The captain and I briefly discussed if takeoff without crash fire rescue equipment at the airport was legal. We concluded that a call to dispatch was necessary. While the captain called dispatch; I informed the tower that we needed time to make a call; and that we were concerned about the legality of a 121 operation at an airport without crash fire rescue equipment. The tower informed us that the airport fire department had responded to a fire call outside of the airport perimeter; possibly at a local hotel; and was not sure how long they would be off the airport property. While we waited for a response from our company; one other air carrier aircraft taxied out; but did not depart. Also; another air carrier aircraft landed. Approximately 15 to 20 minutes after we were informed of 'crash fire rescue equipment not available'; the tower stated that the fire department had returned to the airport property. We departed. During deplaning; a pilot passenger passed a note regarding far 139.319; which he had available and consulted during the flight. Based on the information provided; it appears that the day fire department should not be leaving the airport to respond to calls outside the airport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Air Carrier First Officer reported that because the DAY Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting equipment left for an off airport fire they could not depart for their destination until the equipment returned.

Narrative: Ground Control instructed us to taxi to Runway 24L; cross Runway 18; and included a wheels up time for our destination in approximately 10 minutes. We taxied as instructed and switched to Tower frequency approaching the end of 24L. Tower then informed us that the airport's CFR (crash fire rescue) was not available and that he would be releasing us in 1 minute and 4 seconds to our destination. The Captain and I briefly discussed if takeoff without CFR at the airport was legal. We concluded that a call to Dispatch was necessary. While the Captain called Dispatch; I informed the Tower that we needed time to make a call; and that we were concerned about the legality of a 121 operation at an airport without CFR. The Tower informed us that the airport fire department had responded to a fire call outside of the airport perimeter; possibly at a local hotel; and was not sure how long they would be off the airport property. While we waited for a response from our Company; one other air carrier aircraft taxied out; but did not depart. Also; another air carrier aircraft landed. Approximately 15 to 20 minutes after we were informed of 'CFR not available'; the Tower stated that the fire department had returned to the airport property. We departed. During deplaning; a pilot passenger passed a note regarding FAR 139.319; which he had available and consulted during the flight. Based on the information provided; it appears that the DAY fire department should not be leaving the airport to respond to calls outside the airport.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	956146
Time
Date	201106
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	DAY.Airport
State Reference	OH
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 11200 Flight Crew Type 1500
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural FAR Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown

An air carrier first officer reported that because the day airport rescue and fire fighting equipment left for an off airport fire they could not depart for their destination until the equipment returned.