Air Force, Japan train to fight fires together

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SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  Airmen from Misawa Air Base, Japan, are training to put out fires on base today with Japanese firemen from four local fire departments.

These fires were part of a joint firefighter training exercise.

"The most important reason is that we have a mutual-aid agreements with all of these departments," said Senior Master Sgt. Troy Edwards, Misawa AB fire chief. "We need to be able to train together because we could be called at any time to roll out of the gate to support them."

This same support is also extended to the base from these local firemen.

During exercises like this the Japanese firefighters are able to learn tactics and techniques such as putting out aircraft accidents -- something they normally don't get to train on at their regular stations.