Photo By Thomas Reust | Firefighters from Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth practice airfield operations using...... read more read more
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It was nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit on the flight line of the Fort Riley airfield on June 17, 2021. Two teams worked to put out a fire consuming a UH-60 Black Hawk. It was all part of an intense training exercise. Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth Fire and Emergency Services (FES) teams conducted a joint training operation centered on a live fire exercise using a mock-up of an air-frame specially built for the task.
The training pitted the emergency responders against the heat of the day, and the fire itself, as they practiced dousing the flames in full gear. Multiple stations were set-up for the training, and the airfield training was just one stop along the way through to four other scenarios spread throughout Fort Riley.
“At this station, each team is taking their turn rotating coming in, simulating the fire attack, and putting out the fire”, said Ivan May, Fort Riley fire and emergency services battalion chief.
Two responders from Fort Leavenworth attended the training to certify on airfield firefighting operations. The contingent from Fort Riley were updating a yearly training requirement.
It’s called a Mission Essential Task Listing, or METL,” said Wes Hill, assistant chief of training for Fort Riley emergency services. “This station simulates an off field response, or on field, response that they're going to show up at performing company manage the event. They're also getting training on our crash truck.”
According to Hill, crash trucks are outfitted with enhanced abilities to cover rough terrain and provide larger carrying capacities for water and firefighting foam. Other capabilities include a boom arm affixed with a nozzle which can be operated to cover higher areas without the need for ladders.
The scenario at the airfield consisted of a fire engine and a crash truck arriving on the scene with four emergency responders. The firefighters deployed hoses from both vehicles and attacked the fire engulfing the entire UH-60 airframe. The teams performed personnel rescue procedures as they simultaneously worked to douse the flames.
Afterwards, the teams gathered with instructors to go over the exercise and share lessons learned.
“Once the drills are done, we evaluate them telling what went well what happened bad, and that way they can make improvements in how they approach these types of situations,” said May.
| Date Taken: | 06.24.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.25.2021 11:24 |
| Story ID: | 399683 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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