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| U.S. Marines with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) use a hand line to extinguish a fuel fire Jan. 25, 2019, during live-burn training at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The training is held monthly to provide ARFF Marines with training scenarios to enhance their readiness to respond to any potential hazards or emergencies on the flight line. ARFF Marines entered the training area and used various hand lines, also known as a fire hose, to control and extinguish the fire. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nicole Rogge) |
MCAS FUTENMA, OKINAWA, JAPAN
01.25.2019
Story by Lance Cpl. Nicole Rogge
Marine Corps Installations Pacific
Marines assigned to Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, conducted live-burn training Jan. 24 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan.
The training allowed Marines to practice utilizing their gear and working under pressure in a controlled environment.
“This training specifically is supposed to simulate and fuel spill,” said Cpl. Riphlei Martinez, a P-19 vehicle handline operator with H&HS, MCAS Futenma. “If an aircraft crashes or has a fuel spill and the fuel spill ignites, this is what we would do if that were to happen.”
Fuel spill fires can be unpredictable and becoming familiar with the procedures can make all the difference.
“Here in Okinawa, training is important because we don’t get calls for very many emergency situations,” said Martinez. “We get new junior Marines every other month and for a lot of them this is their first fire or the first time they practice something that can actually happen.”
This monthly training is part of the intense discipline it takes to ensure ARFF Marines are ready for any situation that comes their way.
