Fires can be particularly dangerous when aircraft are involved, so specialized annual training is needed for firefighters who are called to airport emergencies.Local fire crews tested their skills against simulated emergencies earlier this week at the Del Norte County Regional Airport.The seven-person Del Norte Airport ARFF crew consists of two airport employees and five members of Crescent City Fire & Rescue. ARFF stands for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');ARFF techniques focus on rapid response, hazard mitigation, evacuation and rescue. With the potential for loss of life involving aviation emergencies, response times are crucial.This year and last, the Del Norte crew had the training brought to its doorstep, allowing firefighters to work with their own equipment and apparatus rather than learning with gear they might use only once.The ARFF apparatus for Del Norte Airport carries 300 gallons of water and 20 gallons of chemical foam. A hood-mounted spray nozzle is controlled with a joystick from inside the vehicle.Several scenarios— engine fires, fuel spill fires, wing and tire fires — were simulated in the training during the course of a day. Due to environmental concerns with the chemical foam, the training session used only water to put down flames, which were generated by propane.Crescent City Fire & Rescue personnel were a key element of the training exercise. They are the units most likely to respond to the local airport for an aviation emergency.With just two to three minutes of water and foam on the ARFF truck, Crescent City crews must arrive fast and immediately spring into action. The first priority is maintaining an exit from the fire to save lives, regardless of the damage done to property.The training session was conducted by members of the company 139Fire, who also led last year’s training session. The company brought along a mock airplane fuselage and ground panels that combined to create an inferno for firefighters to wade into.The company’s name is derived from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 139 regulatory requirements for airport fire safety.Jeremy Weber is an operator and technician for 139Fire. It was his job to keep it hot for the fire crews, controlling the size and location of the flames to flesh out the scenarios.139Fire is a sister company of Kirila Fire, which builds simulated fire structures such as the mock airplane fuselage. Both are based in Ohio.Weber said the opportunity for Del Norte to train on its home turf, with its own equipment, is valuable for fire departments. The scenarios and skill-building nature of the simulations could make the difference in terms of preparation for the real thing, said Weber. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });