Preparing the equipment

Firefighters from the 507th ARW Civil Engineer Squadron perform fire training aboard a KC-135R Stratotanker during a super unit training assembly September 5. The CES fire flight performs these super UTAs once a quarter in order to perform training scenarios that cannot be performed during normal drill weekends. (U.S. Air Force photos/Senior Airman Mark Hybers)

Egress training

Firefighters from the 507th Air Refueling Wing Civil Engineer Squadron enter a simulated disabled KC-135R Stratotanker and search the rear of the aircraft for fires and victims. The training was part of a quarterly super unit training assembly held by members of the CES in order to fulfill training requirements that cannot normally be done on a regular drill weekend. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Mark Hybers)

Egress training

Firefighters from the 507th Air Refueling Wing Civil Engineer Squadron enter a simulated disabled KC-135R Stratotanker and search the rear of the aircraft preparing to put out any fires they encounter. The training was part of a quarterly super unit training assembly held by members of the CES in order to fulfill training requirements that cannot normally be done on a regular drill weekend. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Mark Hybers)

Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters conduct fire training aboard KC-135

Published Sept. 8, 2014
By Senior Airman Mark Hybers
507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Firefighters from the 507th Air Refueling Wing's Civil Engineer Squadron conducted simulated aircraft fire training on a KC-135R Stratotanker here Sept. 5.

Teams from the Fire and Emergency Services Flight conducted the training in a contingency environment with limited fire department resources. According to CES Assistant Chief of Training Master Sgt. Michael Bilharz, the training is part of CES' quarterly super unit training assembly.

"The fire flight and Emergency Management Flights hold one super UTA per quarter in order to facilitate in depth training that cannot be conducted on two-day drill weekends," said Bilharz. "It also helps build camaraderie and esprit de corps."

Bilharz said the fire flight's structure mirrors a civilian fire department. There are fire and deputy chiefs, assistant chiefs and three to five person crews.

"We do our best to structure and keep our crews working together when they are here in UTA status, on annual tour, or deployed," Bilharz said.

During This training exercise, those crews drove fire trucks across the flight light and entering the distressed aircraft from the wing door with instructors watching from inside and outside the KC-135.

Two crews entered the aircraft and split forward and aft checking for fires, smoke and personnel that may need assistance. Bilharz said instructors were looking for overall safety, the ability to establish command, form an appropriate plan of action and execute it in a timely and safe manner. He said it's important for the members to mitigate the risk of the situation and act appropriately to save victims, put out any fires and keep everyone safe.

"The performance of our crews today was outstanding," Bilharz said. "Everyone walked away with a fresh understanding of what's expected of them during a real-world aircraft emergency."

Bilharz added most of the firefighters will do these large exercises twice a year, which makes them all more proficient and better prepared.

"We are always preparing to deploy to a bare base environment anywhere in the world and provide fire and emergency services at a moment's notice," he said.