Mich. unit presents aircraft fire, rescue session for firefighters

 

 

(1)
Cadet Airman Kyle Reed at the controls of a $650,000 rig at Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s firefighting and rescue center.
     
(2)
Capt. Tony Gutierrez, commander of Lakeshore 119 Composite Squadron, shares insights from his experiences as a firefighter/emergency rescue team member at Gerald R. Ford International.

(3)
Michigan Wing members and Sparta firefighters look over a few of Kent Career Technical Center’s airplane displays.

(4)
Kent Technical Career Technical Center instructor Dennis Stine and 2nd Lt. Bill Reed, Grand Rapids Senior Squadron emergency services officer, lead a presentation.

(5)
Second Lt. Bill Reed describes typical engine type and mounting configuration.


1st Lt. Kevin Jarchow
Public Affairs Officer
Grand Rapids Senior Squadron
Michigan Wing

MICHIGAN – The Grand Rapids Senior Squadron hosted a special training session Nov. 1 for the Sparta Fire Department in response to firefighters’ request for information and general training in fire and rescue matters involving aircraft.

Sparta, just north of Grand Rapids, is home to the popular Paul C. Miller-Sparta Airport, which the squadron often uses for training purposes. During various joint activities, the city’s firefighters expressed interest in a Civil Air Patrol-led training session.

The squadron’s emergency services officer, 2nd Lt. Bill Reed, worked with Lt. Dan Olney, the fire department’ training officer, in organizing the session, which drew 34 participants. It was held at the Kent Career Technical Center’s aviation maintenance facility at Grand Rapids’ Gerald R. Ford International Airport. The facility’s displays of general aviation aircraft in various stages of disassembly made the site ideal for the presentation.

Reed, a CAP pilot and former volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician, worked with Kent Career Technical Center instructor Dennis Stine in presenting a general review of aircraft construction, materials, engines, fuel and electrical systems, as well as potential accident scene and victim injury scenarios. The session also included an overview of current technology and potential hazards at a crash scene.

Key members of the Lakeshore 119 Composite Squadron also contributed. The Lakeshore unit’s commander, Capt. Tony Gutierrez, is a firefighter/emergency rescue team member at Ford International and provided valuable insights for the Sparta team.

Other Lakeshore members participating were the squadron’s deputy commander for seniors, Lt. Col. Frank Roldan; its operations officer, Maj. Jason Sherwood; and its emergency services training officer, 2nd Lt.  Jeston Swarts.

In addition, Reed’s son, Cadet Airman Kyle Reed of the Boulle-Norman Cadet Squadron, helped keep things running smoothly. The younger Reed is a student at the technical center.
 
After the training session concluded, a small caravan of vehicles traveled to the east side of the airport for a tour of the airport fire and rescue facility, led by Gutierrez.