EIGHTEEN FIRE OFFICERS COMMENCE AIRCRAFT RESCUE AND FIRE FIGHTING COURSE

Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 05, 2019 (SKNIS): Eighteen officers within the St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services (SKNFRS) are participating in a five-day workshop designed to educate and enhance aerodrome fire fighting skills.

The Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Introduction Training Course #1 began with an opening ceremony on Monday March 04 and will run until March 08 at the R. L. B. International Airport Fire Hall.

In giving the course overview, Fire Sub Station Officer (FSSO) Lesroy Caines, said the training is in keeping with the proactive programming of the SKNFRS, as the main agency in providing fire protection, safety and rescue operations for all passengers and operators of aircrafts.

As such, course areas to be covered include airport and aircraft familiarization; aircraft rescue and fire fighting; aircraft rescue and fire fighting apparatus; extinguishing agents; tactical operations; and hazards associated with aircraft cargo among others. The officers’ performance will be assessed via written assignments and practical evaluations.

“These aerodynamic machines either company, charter, or privately-owned operated are equipped with modern technology and constructed with several combustible materials. Therefore it is vitally important for the fire fighters to be educated about aircraft rescue and fire fighting techniques that will effectively enhance their fire fighting skills,” FSSO Caines said.

Fire Chief Everette O’Garro recalled that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has very strict guidelines about the necessary equipment and personnel that must be contained with the space of an aerodrome.

“As a key stakeholder in regards to the efficient operation of the R. L. B. International Aerodrome, it is critically important that we do our part in assisting the management and by extension the licensing in meeting those required standards,” he said. “The training exercise we are about to commence today will no doubt go a long way in making sure that our aerodrome emergency arrangements are effective and appropriate to respond to any aircraft incident or accident that may occur at the R. L. B. International Airport.”

Lecturers for the five-day course are Fire Sub Station Officer Lesroy Caines, Fire Sub Station Officer Ⅱ Rommel Williams, Fire Sub Station Officer Timothy Martin and Fire Station Officer Tito Rosmond.