News

KC-135 helps firefighters keep up-to-date with training

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Fire trucks and other vehicles from the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department convoyed out to a hardstand on the south side of base Nov. 13, when a KC-135 Stratotanker was the focus of a training exercise.

Simulating an aircraft engine fire, the firefighters responded accordingly, as water shot out from two fire trucks onto the aircraft on a cold winter's morning.

As several firefighters did a sweep of the area around the aircraft, checking for unaccounted personnel, four others - two Ministry of Defence firefighters and two Airmen - carefully placed a ladder against the aircraft and, wearing breathing equipment, climbed onto the wing.

They then opened up the small emergency exit door above the wing, and entered the aircraft, checking the interior layout and familiarizing themselves with proper shutdown procedures.

The firefighters also discovered one of the simulated unaccounted personnel and carried him carefully down the ladder through the cargo door. Once safely on the ground, the patient was then given simulated treatment by other firefighters standing by.

"Hands-on training and familiarization is required quarterly, but performed monthly," said Master Sgt. William Goehl, 100th CES Fire Protection training manager. "It keeps our personnel familiar with the interior layout of the aircraft, and proper shut-down procedures. It also helps us think of different situations we could encounter with these types of emergencies," he said.