Base fire department trains local emergency responders
By Senior Airman Rae Perry, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
/ Published March 24, 2010
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Michael Blackburn, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department special operations officer, shows members of the Goldsboro Fire Department potential F-15E Strike Eagle areas that could cause a hazard during a real world-response as part of aircraft familiarization training on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 19, 2010. During the training, Wayne County and Goldsboro firefighters learned proper response actions for an incident involving hydraulic fluids, fuel, oxygen and a downed aircraft, all of which are not part of their standard training. Blackburn hails from Beulaville, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Rae Perry)
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Members of the Goldsboro Fire Department take turns examining the F-15E Strike Eagle cockpit as Michael Blackburn, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department special operations officer, explains its features on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 19, 2010. Aircraft familiarization training provides local emergency responders an up-close look at the airframes and knowledge of hazards associated with it. Blackburn hails from Beulaville, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Rae Perry)
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Sean Quinby, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant fire chief, and Scott Matthews, Goldsboro firefighter, demonstrate gear worn by aviators during mission familiarization training at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 19, 2010. During the class, Goldsboro and Wayne County firefighters learned the best methods to approach a downed aircraft and how to protect the community from associated fires. In the case of an off-base emergency, these firefighters will primarily focus on fighting structural fires. Quinby hails from Seattle and Matthews hails from Winston, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Rae Perry)
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Goldsboro firefighters partnered with the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department for annual training on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 19, 2010. The training familiarized community fire departments with the aircraft flown by base personnel and their potential hazards. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Rae Perry)
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --
Members of the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Services flight invited the Goldsboro Fire Department to learn about the mission of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., the aircraft flown here and to receive specialized fire training.
Aircraft familiarization training provides local emergency responders an opportunity to take an up-close look at the airframes and learn about associated hazards in the event of an aircraft emergency.
"We try to reach most of the (local) departments on an annual basis, perhaps every other year," said Sean Quinby, 4th CES Fire Emergency Services Flight assistant fire chief. "It's important because, as much as we wish there will never be a plane crash, we have to prepare for it."
The goal of the training is to teach local firefighters about the best methods to approach a downed aircraft and how to protect the community from any associated fires. In addition, they learn how to deal with hydraulic fluid, fuel, oxygen and the aircraft.
In the event an aircraft crashes off base, local emergency responders would likely to be first on scene.
"Our obligation is to help prepare those emergency responders to handle the hazards involved with an aircraft crash," Quinby said.
Since an emergency response involves on-and-off base responders, team work is imperative.
"The Goldsboro Fire Departments are very aware of the presence of Seymour Johnson and if there is an emergency, it's probably not going to happen on base, but in the community." said James Farfour, Goldsboro Fire Department assistant chief of operations. "We won't be the primary responders, because as soon as they arrive, we will take on an assistance role. We have to work with each other in that and make the transition."
This is not the only joint training the two fire departments conduct.
"We participate in (exercise) Orbit Comet every year and try to work our area of operations, though it's not fire department based; we help as much as we can." Farfour said.