Fire departments bring the heat

Published Aug. 10, 2012
By Senior Airman Dan Gage
90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Mighty Ninety and Wyoming Air National Guard firefighters can train in their own back yard this year with the use of a mobile air fire trainer.

On lease from Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., the MAFT allowed local firefighters to perform approximately 20 training missions here since its arrival to the Wyoming Air National Guard base in June.

The trainer is fully mobile, according to Josh Sarters, 90th Civil Engineer Squadron lead firefighter, and can simulate many different small aircraft fires.

"We can simulate engine, afterburner and wheel fires," Sarters said. "Where the value really comes into play is when fighting the fires internally in the fusealage.

"The heat inside the aircraft can reach 1,200 to 1,800 degrees," he added. "While we don't necessarily subject our guys to those kinds of heat in training, we get valuable experience from training in the restricted space inside the trainer."

The $1 million trainer is on lease from Buckley to the 90th Missile Wing until the end of August.

This is the first year local firefighters have had access to the trainer close to home, an opportunity which will continue for years to come, according to Tom Anderson, Wyoming Air Guard assistant fire chief.

"Before we had this opportunity our firefighters had to travel to Colorado Springs, Colo. or Casper, Wyo.," added Anderson. "Being able to utilize this not only cuts costs, in terms of travel and temporary duty expenses, it also allows our personnel more time at home with their family every year.

"The Guard's mission is becoming more and more diverse," he continued. "Our guys are deploying more frequently so being able to reduce time away from home when we can is critical."

The benefits of the MAFT are also being seen in the Mighty Ninety.

"Having access to this right outside our back door has allowed us to meet our aircraft requirements for the Air Force and for the Federal Aviation Association," said Sarters.

Members of local Cheyenne, Wyo. fire departments also have access to train with the MAFT as they may be called to assist with aircraft fires, and there are plans to train firefighters from Guernsey, Wyo., according to Sarters.

"This is a great opportunity we want to utilize as fully as possible," said Col. Christopher Coffelt, 90th Missile Wing commander. "Having the ability to train with the total force team - active duty, guard and reserve servicemembers, as well as civilians serving beside us - to prepare for the critical mission we execute for our nation on a daily basis is priceless."

Having access to the MAFT is another step for members of the Mighty Ninety towards being ready to fight fires anytime, anywhere, according to Sarters.

"It keeps our guys ready to deploy," he said. "The guard members see aircraft every day, we don't at Warren. Having access to this is invaluable - we don't want our firefighter's first experience with an aircraft fire to be the real thing while deployed."

"This allows us to be prepared when our boots hit the ground," he concluded.