In late September 2015, volunteers from the Lara brigade together with career staff from Avalon Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) made the trip to the ARFF training facility at Tullamarine airport in a joint training exercise.
The exercise was the second joint training event run between Lara and Avalon at the Tullamarine facility. This exercise focused on internal structure fire, and search and rescue. The first session, earlier in the year was focused on aircraft incidents.
With Avalon airport being in the Lara primary response area, Lara have always had a close relationship with Avalon ARFF crews (previously Avalon Fire Service). Previous training sessions where more classroom based, covering topics such as aircraft fires, crashes, even how to disable ejector seats! However, the joint hot fire exercise at Tullamarine is believed to be one of the first between CFA and ARFF in recent years.
The exercise allowed crews to work alongside each other, whilst operating to their own SOPs and command control practices. ARFF are the controlling agency at aircraft incidents within the airport boundary, so understanding how they operate is critical to how the CFA support them. Lara Crew members were also given the opportunity to use some of the ARFF equipment including the truck mounted dry chemical powder system or DCP.
There was also a chance to test the Type 4 Heavy pumper’s roof monitor against the ARFF Tender’s roof monitor. “We thought we were doing well, until ARFF also turned on their bumper monitor, and advised they could still boost 1000kpa into our truck without stopping the main monitor” Said Lt Stevens, Lara. The ARFF Tender’s roof monitor delivers 80 Lt/sec and the Bumper monitor delivers 40 Lt/sec.
A big thankyou to Brian Stevens (CFA), Luke Wood (AARF), Jim Parker (ARFF Station Officer) for their efforts in organising the training exercises. Also to the CFA and ARFF crews for participating in the events.
Click on the link below to see a video of the hot fire session:
CFA & ARFF Hot Fire Exercise
Photos: Dale Wilson, Brian Stevens
Video: Dale Wilson
Author: dale wilson