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Fiery spectacle trains firefighters

Santa Clara County fire departments and firefighters and first responders from the NASA Ames Research Center participated in dramatic training sessions at Moffett Federal Airfield last week.

Firefighters and first responders were invited by the research center to use equipment from their own departments to battle realistic fires simulating blazes caused by flammable liquid spills, wheel brakes, interior cabins, auxiliary power units, and engines.

The training used a propane-fueled aircraft firefighting trainer supplied by Kellogg Community College of Battle Creek, Mich.

The school manages and operates a Federal Aviation Administration aircraft rescue and firefighting mobile trainer, which provides fire departments with the opportunity to prepare for real-life situations using their own apparatus.

For safety, trainers are able to control the intensity of the flames, which may be visible to drivers on Highway 101 and neighboring areas, according to the statement from the research center.

Bay City News Service