Keesler Fire Department trains to maintain readiness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Spencer Tobler
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs

The Keesler Fire Department conducted their semi-annual Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting training using live fires, at Keesler Air Force Base, June 3-6.

The fire department worked in conjunction with the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center Fire Department, Stennis Airport Fire Department and the U.S. Naval Air Station Pensacola Gulf Coast Fire Rescue to further increase personnel readiness, lethality and joint operation efficiency.

“It gets everybody on the same page on how we operate tactically,” said James Donnett, 81st Infrastructure Division fire chief. “We try to have everybody follow our procedures so in the event the real thing happens, it’s a seamless integration.”

All trainees and instructors received safety and concept of operations briefings before the practical training. Multiple evolutions of mass application fire extinguishment, wheel well fires, running fuel fires, ground fires and interior rescue operations were some of the challenges firefighting teams had to conquer during this training.

“These evolutions are critical to the readiness of the people in the fire department,” Donnett said. “Not only for the response of the base populace, but for when our military members deploy.”

The fire department trains every day to make sure personnel are ready to do their job efficiently and effectively.

“Our main priority is to be able to respond on a strategic level 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year,” Donnett said. “That constant training and pre-planning keeps us safer when responding to the emergencies that may be thrown at us.”