Hot Times at Full Phase Fire Training
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080601-03
Release Date: 6/1/2008 10:01:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Micah Blechner, Pre-Commissioning Unit George H.W. Bush Public Affairs
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors from Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H. W. Bush's (CVN 77) Air Department began another round of its flight deck firefighting training awat from theship at the Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress in Chesapeake, Va., May 1.
PCU George H.W. Bush is currently under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard.
"Last week was our second week going to Fentress," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate Handling 1st Class (AW) Aric E. French, Air Department's V-1 division leading petty officer. "We try to go every other week. We stay out there all day and usually run five to six [flight deck firefighting] scenarios."
French explained the training is important because of the dangers of a fire on the flight deck when the ship is launching and landing airplanes.
"Due to the hazards of live ordnances and planes [landing and taking off] a fire could break out at any given time," French said.
The constant danger of fire on the flight deck also drives the need for every Air Department Sailor to know how to perform every firefighting job.
"The airmen train as on-scene leaders, hose team leaders, nozzle men, and plugmen," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate Handling 1st Class (AW/SW) Franklin I. Santiago, assistant leading petty officer, V-1 division. "We are trying to make sure we are all on the same page."
The on-scene leader is directly in charge of two hose teams who fight to gain control of a fire. The hose team leader directs the nozzle men on how to fight the fire. The nozzle men are the Sailors who hold the end of the hose and control the flow of water onto the fire. The plugmen are in charge of making certain that the hoses are properly attached to the fire main, as well as turning the water on and off.
Santiago explained that because it is impossible to know exactly where each Sailor will be on the flight deck at any moment, it is essential for everyone to know how to assume all roles on a firefighting team.
"This type of training is extremely hands-on," Santiago said. "The entire V-1 division (122 personnel) participates. Everyone E-6 and below gets in on it."
"We make these fire scenarios as life-like as possible," French said. "We are working with a pretty beat up E-2 Hawkeye aircraft as we train. We are only able to utilize two hoses because the fire main [in the training scenarios] are not able to support four hose teams [as the aircraft carrier would]."
French noted that the reason aircraft are used during this training is because the V-1 division works only on the flight deck of every aircraft carrier. Aircraft pose the greatest risk of fire on the flight deck.
"I can honestly say that the quality of training that we have been getting is probably the best that I have ever seen," French said. "Our goal is to make sure that our department has basic firefighting skills and is able to set the precedent for training once we finally get on the ship and what we will continue to do, as far as training is concerned, in the future."
In addition to simulations, PCU Bush Sailors will train at sea.
"Some of our guys are currently deployed with other ships in order to gain their required sea-going qualifications. We try to get the guys out to [other aircraft carriers] to see what the actual equipment looks like and how to operate it," French said.
Santiago said all of this flight deck firefighting training is in preparation for the first stages of V-1's crew certification fire drills.
"The test covers all firefighting procedures, our response time and how we work with the other divisions that also operate on the flight deck," Santiago said. "When we finally do go out to sea and get graded for our first fire drill, I think that we will be ready."
For more news from Pre-Commissioning Unit George H.W. Bush, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn77/.
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