October was Fire Prevention Month across the United States, and during the month our ARFF team held a multifaceted training, in conjunction with Erie County, to further hone its structural firefighting skills. 

This year, the focus was on performing searches on multiple levels, forward hose lays, combing search and rescue, and extinguishing a fire in one of the burn rooms. ARFF's Assistant Chief developed the training and safety plan based on NFPA 1403 Life Fire Training. Erie County Fire provides county fire instructors to assist with the safety and lighting of live fires. ARFF crews performed multiple evolutions during the 4-hour training session. The photos included in this post show different levels of the training: (1) a group photo reviewing the actions of the last training evolution, (2) one of our airport firefighters pulling the LDH towards the truck, (3) members of the crew entering the burning building, and (4) water being shot out of the burn room to help with ventilation.

In addition to ARFF's structural fire training and other topics, there are 14 aviation fire department-required training subjects. Our firefighters must participate in FAA-required aviation live fire training exercises annually in June.