Iowa ANG firefighters train aircraft rescue and firefighting

Credit: Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot | Date Taken: 05/04/2024
B-roll video shows firefighters from the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing fire department training on multiple firefighting tasks with the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting trainer over the May training weekend in Sioux City. Assistant Chief Fire of Operations, Master Sgt. Mitch Decker says aircraft fire fighting presents unique challenges because aircraft fires usually involve large amounts of fuel. Decker said having the mobile ARFF trainer come to Sioux City allows everyone in the airport fire department access to the required training with minimal interruptions to work schedules. During the weekend training, the Air Force firefighters were also training while wearing chemical warfare gear. Decker says wearing the chem gear is an important part of training regime for military firefighters. The traveling trainer was in Sioux City for three days and had firefighters battling fuel, engine and fuselage fires. The training also had participants practicing aircraft entry techniques.