An Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting truck arrives at the “crash site.”
ARFF firefighters extinguish the fire.
THE Commonwealth Ports Authority’s Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting unit conducted a full-scale triennial airport disaster drill at the southern end of Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport on Friday.
With the participation of officials and staff of the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority and volunteers from the Public School System’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Course, the event that took place from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. simulated a plane crash scenario involving about 200 people.
CPA Board Vice Chairman Antonio B. Cabrera, Rep. Manny Castro, legislative staff member Derek Teregeyo, who represented Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, and other members of the community observed the drill, which is required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
DFEMS Commissioner Juan A. Pua ignited the controlled fire at the “disaster site” while members of JROTC and other volunteers acted as crash survivors.
“This is the kind of event that we don’t look forward to happen, but we have to be prepared at all times,” Cabrera said.
He said the activities at the site “are what we should be doing and we have to be prepared at all times.”
“Everything seems okay, so far,” he added as he expressed appreciation to the participating agencies and volunteers, who also had fun doing the drill. “I’m glad that they took the time to come and participate,” Cabrera said.
Castro said it’s always good to be proactive about natural disasters and emergencies “so I’m glad to see that our first responders, ARFF and also the airport facility and staff members and outside partners, especially the staff of CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency, are taking a proactive approach in preparation for a situation like this.”
Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Commissioner Juan A. Pua ignites a controlled fire at the “crash site.”
ARFF rescuers transport a “plane crash survivor” to safety.
