Portland Fire and Rescue, Port of Portland and Hillsboro firefighters are taking part in a joint training this week to help prepare them for fighting fuel fires in case of an aircraft related accident at the Port of Portland airport.

"This type of training is conducted to teach firefighters how to safely extinguish fuel fires," said Craig Callicotte, the Fire Chief of Port of Portland. "The training also teaches them how to deal with the large amounts of fuel on the ground that will occur during an aircraft crash."

The training is being hosted by the Port of Portland Fire Department and is taking place at the station's 152-foot-wide jet fuel burn pit.  The pit contains a 75-foot-long aircraft mock-up were 100's of gallons of JP-5 jet fuel is set ablaze.

"After the pit is ablaze we have three teams move in, along with a training officer, and extinguish the fire," said Callicotte. "It's important for firefighters to work alongside one another and see and experience how jet fuel fires act and how to properly extinguish one."

Hands-on joint trainings help firefighters to reinforce techniques, awareness, and teamwork. Marty Getch, a Firefighter Training Officer for Portland Fire & Rescue, said the drills conducted at the Port's training facility give him hands-on experience in how to handle, and react, to a variety of incidents.

"The firefighters from the Port, Hillsboro, and Portland Fire did outstanding job," noted Callicotte. "The Port of Portland Fire Department will continue conducting joint-training fires because it helps us all maintain our readiness to fight fires, protect property, and save lives. After all, that's what our job is all about."

Photos courtesy of Portland Fire & Rescue.