Red Tail Fire Department sharpens aircraft firefighting skills

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Lauren M. Snyder
  • 332d Air Expeditionary Wing

The 332d Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department exercised their emergency response procedures for the F-16 Fighting Falcon here, Feb. 18 and 19, 2022.

This pilot egress-focused training enabled firefighters to complete multiple continuing education units while honing the skills necessary to save lives and support military installations.

“This exercise knocked out over 50 CEUs for our firefighters,” said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Cappel, 332d ECES Fire Department Assistant Chief of Training. “Our preparation for responding to an event like this has been successful because every training unit was accomplished correctly and within time limits. They sharpened their aircraft firefighting skills and gained valuable experience in extricating a live pilot during an emergency.”

Egress is the ability of a pilot to survive and separate from the aircraft when something goes wrong. This simulation required the fire department to rescue a fighter pilot incapacitated with smoke in his aircraft, under threat of possible erupting flames and live munitions.

The 322d Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department provides base fire prevention and protection and works in a multilateral environment, training with partners on multiple types of emergencies and aircraft.