Airport firefighters are highly trained emergency response specialists who use special equipment to fight aviation fires and evacuate passengers. They wear fire proximity suits and use self-contained breathing apparatuses. They regularly conduct drills and work to reduce emergency response times. Laws in many countries require firefighters to be stationed at major airports.
An airport firefighter is an emergency response specialist stationed at an airfield. These specialists respond to dangerous situations such as plane crashes or jet fuel fires. Due to the unique aspects and risks of an airport, these firefighters are highly trained. Aviation emergency personnel use a variety of equipment to carry out their duties, including special suits and response vehicles.
All firefighters are trained to carry out rescues and put out fires. At an airport, however, specialist experience is required. An airfield often contains fuel tanks and pumps, which can be extremely flammable. In addition, aircraft taking off and landing at airports contain fuel and oxygen tanks. This combination can cause a fire or accident and quickly become a major emergency.
An airport firefighter has access to special foams and chemicals that are formulated to fight aviation fires. In an accident or fire, one of the main objectives of emergency workers is the evacuation of passengers. Firefighters use handheld hoses and spray vehicles to clear the evacuation path. The confined space of an aircraft means that quick response is often critical. Many airports use fast trucks called accident auctions to quickly reach an emergency location.
Individual firefighters are also specially equipped to deal with the dangers of an airport fire. A fire proximity suit is often used to protect workers from intense heat. These full body suits have a silver look and are designed to reflect the firefighter’s warmth. A self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is usually combined with a protective suit. The SCBA provides clean air for a firefighter and allows an emergency worker to approach a fire without inhaling smoke or dangerous fumes.
Training is a significant part of an airport firefighter’s job. Many departments use aircraft fuselages to simulate plane crashes and may create a controlled fire for training purposes. Airport fire personnel regularly conduct drills and work to reduce emergency response times. Firefighters must also train to stay in good physical shape and practice teamwork exercises to create a cohesive unit.
Many countries have laws that require firefighters to be constantly stationed at major airports. In the United States, for example, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that an airport fire team be stationed at all airports that receive regularly scheduled planes. Organizations such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) evaluate these firefighters’ performance after each accident and work with emergency teams to improve response times and firefighting training.
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