MCAS Beaufort -- Marines with Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting conducted a mutual response training exercise with firefighters from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort’s structural fire department in Pine Grove aboard the Air Station, May 15.
Constant training is part of any firefighter’s schedule to maintain and improve skills.
“That particular drill was important because we intermingled with base firefighters to see how we would work with them,” said Cpl. Raul Landeo, a training clerk with ARFF.
ARFF and the structural fire department don’t work together often, so it’s important for each group to be aware of how the other works and interacts in an emergency situation.
“The scenario was a [jet] came down in Pine Grove, where an aircraft crashed but it was off the airfield,” said Landeo. “We need to know exactly how we work with [base firefighters].”
While ARFF focuses primarily on response, evacuation and rescue of aircraft crew in an emergency, they need to know how to conduct a response with the structural fire department, which focuses on response, evacuation and rescue during building fires. If jurisdictions cross in an emergency situation, both ARFF and the structural fire department would respond.
“Communication is vital out there, so being able to relay information across departments is paramount,” said Sgt. Erick Owens, a pointman with ARFF.
This training also provides an opporutnity for Marines to share experiences, stories and lessons with other professional firefighters.
“I’ve grown a deeper respect for the firefighting community [since I joined the Marine Corps],” said Owens.