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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Specially trained firefighters did a live fire training exercise at Tampa International Airport on Wednesday night.
It’s a call they hope to never get but are prepared for.
This type of fire training happens multiple times a year at the airport. They use jet fuel for this type of exercise, which is why the flames are so high and can get up to 40 feet tall.
Officials said this type of training is essential to keeping everyone safe.
“Although aircraft incidents are rare, they can be a high-hazard, high-risk event and aircraft firefighters must be highly skilled,” Airport Division Chief James Billotte said.
The suits go on and each firefighter has a handline to fight the jet fuel fire.
“The flames will be burning quite a bit hotter than your typical fire, so our firefighters are specially trained for these types of incidents and their protective gear is a little bit different than your average firefighter,” Billotte said.
“These firefighters are uniquely trained to provide this level of service. It’s part of their certification that’s required every year and these types of fires are very different than what you would see in any type of public scenario,” said Adam Bouchard, vice president of operations for Tampa International Airport.
A metal frame is placed inside a pit, along with jet fuel to mimic an aircraft emergency.
These specially trained firefighters are with Tampa Fire Rescue’s Airport Rescue Fire Fighting Division.
“Even though we’ve never had to go everybody running out to something, catastrophic accident, we’re still always going to be ready for that in the event it ever happens,” Bouchard said.
The trucks hold up to 3,000 gallons of water, along with foam, to help the firefighters put out the intense fire that burns at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
“We’re one of the areas here that still use jet fuel, but it is grandfathered in and it does make it much more realistic,” Billotte said.
It’s a training everyone must participate in and is just one of the many trainings required.
Situations like these create a real-world environment for the firefighters.
Billotte said there will be another live fire training this summer.
