Firefighters train to tackle aircraft accidents

Firefighters from several local departments study a Beechcraft airplane at the Nevada Municipal Airport. They were participating in a two-day training seminar to help firefighters deal with incidents at airports more safely.

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

On Saturday, Nevada firefighters, along with members of 10 to 15 other area public safety departments, participated in training presented by the University of Missouri's Fire Rescue Institute and the Missouri Department of Transportation aimed at familiarizing firefighters with airports and airplanes.

Don Elliot from the Columbia Airport Fire Department was the trainer. Elliot has 23 years experience as an airport firefighter.

Approximately 52 firefighters participated in the two-day training, part classroom lecture and part on-site lesson at Nevada Municipal Airport. Firefighters saw first hand how to identify their location; runway, taxiway, or parking area by observing the different markings found at different areas of the airport.

The training included helping firefighters become more familiar with the various parts of planes, knowing where fuel and electrical shut-offs are generally located and what types of fuels are used by different planes. It also focused on what to be wary of when dealing with an incident involving aircraft. General information about airport operations was included to help firefighters handle incidents at airports was also covered.