Greek Firefighters Train
in Rochester
Article
from the MCC Daily Tribune, Thursday, September 19, 2002
Firefighters from Athens International
Airport in Greece will travel to Monroe Community College's Public
Safety Training Center, Sept. 21 - Oct. 28 for advanced aircraft rescue
and firefighting training.
The Public Safety Training Center (PSTC),
located at 1190 Scottsville Rd., was chosen by the Greek firefighting
unit because of the advanced facilities, technologies and capabilities
available. This is the first international training contract the center
has been awarded.
Thirty six firefighters will arrive in three
groups of 12, with the first arriving on Sept. 21, the second on Oct.
5 and the last on Oct. 19. While in Rochester, they will each undergo
a week-long training course on how to handle cabin fires, effect rescues
from disabled aircraft and extinguish engine fires. They will also
be trained on the PSTC's two specialized crash trucks.
"They saw our ad in an international
publication," said Jim Harrington,
program coordinator for fire science and systems at the PSTC. "They
went to our web page and looked at what was available and were impressed
with our capabilities. They decided to come to Rochester versus London's
Heathrow International Airport because we can better meet their needs."
The PSTF has some of the most advanced props
and equipment available for aircraft fire rescue training in the country.
The Fuel Spill Fire Trainer, for example, is a mockup of a Boeing
737 surrounded with thousands of propane fuel valves. These are lit
and controlled by computers in the control tower to simulate an actual
aircraft fuel spill fire, while maintaining a safe environment for
trainees. A 125-foot burn area surrounds the prop, and the valves
can be fully ignited to surround the entire plane or divided to allow
for a partial area burn.
Mark Sommer
MCC Public Affairs
09/18/2002 |
