Forging bonds in fire

Members of the Del Rio and Laughlin Fire Departments pose in front of their Rapid Intervention Vehicles and the aircraft mock-up after a live fire exercise here Feb. 11, 2013. The exercise was designed to help Del Rio firefighters maintain their currencies while training alongside Laughlin’s firefighters. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Evan M. Ross)

Snapshot of Laughlin: Forging bonds in fire

Published Feb. 14, 2013
By 2nd Lt. Evan M. Ross
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Laughlin Air Force Base Fire Department is a nationally-certified unit whose responsibilities include every structure and aircraft on Laughlin.

The firefighters in the photos are taking part in a joint live-fire exercise with firefighters from the city of Del Rio Feb. 12 to help them maintain their currencies and practice aircraft fire procedures.

Teams of three firefighters went into an aircraft mock-up to extinguish cockpit, fuselage and ground fires. Exercises like this one help build camaraderie between the units who have a mutual aid agreement with each other since they could be called out to fight fires jointly.

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