BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Fire and Rescue Services in the Federation and around the Eastern Caribbean have taken steps to expand their scope of capabilities through participation in a week-long Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) training course.
The first of its kind to take place in the OECS, the course kicked off yesterday (Apr. 20) at the headquarters of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
While nine of the 18 participants represent the St. Kitts Nevis Fire and Rescue Services, four of them are from Antigua, two from Grenada and one from St. Vincent.
In offering brief opening remarks, Master of Ceremonies Fire Station Officer Everette O’Garro underscored the importance of training if the officers were to effectively carry out their duties.
“It is common knowledge that the objective of an aerodrome rescue and fire fighting service is to save lives in the event of an aircraft accident or incident, and that one of the most important factors bearing on this is training received by aerodrome rescue and fire fighting personnel.
“It is essential that all personnel involved in rescue and fire fighting duties at aerodromes undergo appropriate initial and recurrent comprehensive training to ensure that they have sufficient knowledge, experience and skills to carry out their rescue and fire fighting functions. (This training) underscores the fact that the authorities are cognisant of this and are (taking the) necessary steps to address the required training needs of aerodrome RFF personnel.”
The instructors of the course, Captains Steve Hall and Dan Beaudoin of the Greater Toronto Fire Fighting Services, will take the men through a week of intense training in the theoretical aspect of effective aircraft rescue and fire fighting. Hall said the course would be work-filled but promised the participants enjoyable and fun experiences.
The participants will be schooled in the effective extinguishing of hydro-carbons, the different techniques applicable to aircraft fire fighting and the latest aircraft rescue and fire fighting tools and equipment, among other things.
Head of the local Fire and Rescue Services, Chief Fire Officer Hester Rawlins officially declared the course open and encouraged healthy competition among the participants.
At the end of the course, the participants will be presented with certificates of completion.
