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JBSA News
NEWS | July 16, 2014

Military, local firefighters train together

By Airman 1st Class Stormy D. Archer Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph firefighters trained firefighters from the City of San Antonio Fire Department on safely extricating crewmembers from a T-6 Texan II July 9 on the JBSA-Randolph flight line.

 

The training was aimed at bringing military and local firefighters together to prepare for emergencies.

 

"We are all firefighters and emergency responders," said Master Sgt. Darnell Walls, JBSA-Randolph assistant chief of compliance for the JBSA-Randolph Fire Department. "We need to know their capabilities and they need to know ours."

 

During the training, San Antonio firefighters learned about the different parts of the aircraft, how to open the canopy and how to safely remove the pilot for medical attention.

 

"The T-6 Texan flies in and out of San Antonio every day," said Dawson Frank, San Antonio International Airport interim airport emergency coordinator. "It's an unusual aircraft for us because it involves ejection seats."

 

Potential hazards for emergency responders on the T-6 Texan II include: ejection seats, up to 178 gallons of fuel, oxygen bottles, hot tires and brakes, a spinning prop and a detonating cord attached to the canopy.

 

The training began with classroom instruction followed by a trip to a nearby hangar, allowing the firefighters to climb up on the aircraft and get hands-on experience.

 

"Tell me twice, but show me once," said Herlin Pineda, San Antonio Fire Department firefighter. "Now I have a good understanding of the ejection system and know what I need to do and what not to do. It gives me confidence instead of fear."