AEDC firefighters train for readiness

  • Published
  • By Raquel March
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  Thirty-eight AEDC firefighters participated in a three-day live fire training March 23-25 at the Complex.

Live fire training is critical for AEDC firefighters to ensure readiness during an emergency either at the Complex or for mutual aid in the surrounding counties.

"Structural firefighting is the heart of our mission to protect the lives, property and mission capability of AEDC," said Chief of AEDC Fire and Emergency Services Daryle Lopes. "We achieve this through prevention, preparedness, and emergency responses.  Our preparedness comes from our training.  The annual structural live fire event is important because it sharpens basic firefighting skills and builds teamwork under conditions of high heat and added stress."

The training, conducted using the Kentucky Fire Commission mobile live fire rescue training simulator, provides an opportunity for the firefighters to keep response times efficient and their minds sharp.

"We performed four different evolutions during the simulation," said AEDC Paramedic/Firefighter Daniel Harris. "These were fighting a ground floor fire, fighting a basement fire, breaching a wall for building egress and rooftop ventilation. Each evolution was performed in teams of two."

During a simulation, firefighters may experience temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and limited visibility due to smoke.

The firefighters are able to practice forcible entry, hose stream application, fire attack above and below ground level and emergency self-rescue techniques.