Firefighters from Misawa work their way up to the burning interior of an aircraft-fire simulator at Misawa Air Base, Japan, on Friday. The $6 million structure was finished earlier this year and base firefighters invited neighboring fire departments to join them in various training scenarios. (Jennifer H. Svan / S&S)
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — The heat felt good from afar, but this was no bonfire.
On a chilly Friday morning in northern Japan, Misawa Air Base’s firefighters demonstrated to their Japanese counterparts how they would tackle one of the hottest fires on earth: A fuel-fed aircraft inferno.
Members of Misawa’s Fire and Emergency Services — part of the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron — invited three neighboring fire departments and Japan Air Self-Defense Force fire crews to practice their blaze-stamping skills on their new $6 million fire-training simulator, a rusted-looking steel aircraft shell that can produce wicked fire with the flip of a switch.
The event was a rare chance for the Japanese to train with live fire, Misawa military officials said, since there are few similar fire-training simulators in Japan. It also was an opportunity for the approximately 85 firefighters from both countries to practice what they stand ready to do on a moment’s notice every day.
“In the event of an unfortunate aircraft crash, we would respond with mutual aid with them and vice versa,” said Staff Sgt. Norman Becker, noncommissioned-officer-in-charge of training for the base’s 80 firefighters. Air Force, Navy, JASDF and commercial airliners use Misawa’s runway. If an aircraft were to crash and burn upon takeoff or landing, it’s likely both U.S. and Japanese firefighters would be called to the scene said Becker.
“It depends on whose aircraft it is on who takes charge, but we all respond,” said Lt. Col. Dave Maharrey, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron commander. “It works very well. They’re used to working together.”
Misawa base firefighters began training on the simulator this spring. They head out to what they call the fire pit about once a month to practice cockpit, engine, cargo, cabin, tail and other types of aircraft fires. Before it was built, they practiced putting out engine fires on a much smaller piece of equipment.
The simulator uses liquid propane to produce intense heat inside the aircraft.
“There’s always some degree of danger,” said Staff Sgt. David Frazier, a base fire protection crew chief. But the environment is very controlled, he said. An operator in a nearby tower can ignite up to 13 burners in the aircraft with the turn of an electric switch. The fire can be extinguished almost as quickly — in about three seconds — if there’s a problem. “It’s essentially a giant barbecue,” Frazier said.
