Firefighters train on burning aircraft Published Sept. 30, 2013 By Kirtland Fire Department KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Members of the 377th Mission Support Group's Fire Department go through live-fire training regularly, and were recently joined by the group's top leaders. At an aircraft burn Sept. 20, Col. Jeffrey Lanning, 377th MSG commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Richard Vargas, 377th MSG superintendent, joined the crew to train alongside Kirtland fire department members. "The duo performed superbly during the aircraft burns considering the limited time they had to prepare for the event," said Chester Estes, assistant chief of training. The primary role for leaders was to operate the crash firefighting vehicles. "They approached the burning aircraft using the wind to their advantage for maximum reach from both the roof and bumper turrets, thereby creating a rescue path for the crewmembers to get out of harm's way," Estes said. "They did a great job positioning their vehicles to allow hand lines to dismount and extinguish fires under the airframe of the aircraft and hard to reach places." Under Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration requirements, personnel assigned to the fire department must achieve at least two aircraft live-fire trainings each year. Members of the Carlsbad and Roswell fire departments participated in the training event to meet their FAA certification requirements. The Kirtland fire department supports the Albuquerque International Sunport by providing aircraft fire and rescue services for military, federal, and civilian aircraft.