New National Level of Emergency Response Training Established at Edmonton International Airport

EDMONTON–Today, firefighters at Edmonton International Airport receive certification from the Alberta Fire Training School for successfully completing studies making them members of the highest trained civilian airport fire department in Canada.

For the past two years, the 27 men and women who comprise Edmonton Airports Emergency Response Department, underwent approximately 600 hours of both theoretical and practical training at the Alberta Fire Training School in Vermillion and Edmonton International Airport.

The course curriculum, based on internationally recommended practices and standards set out by the National Fire Protection Association (the organization that establishes international practices and standards used for fire suppression, dangerous goods response and rescue activity), gives our firefighters certification to meet Transport Canada requirements, and skills necessary to safely engage in commercial/industrial structural fires, dangerous goods response, vehicle extrication, fire prevention and aircraft fire fighting. (National Fire Protection Association 1001-Level 2 and NFPA 1003-Level 3)

Previous to this, Edmonton International Airport Emergency Response Department members were trained for first response to aircraft fires on the airfield, while providing back-up to firefighters from Leduc County and other jurisdictions for all other fires and emergencies on other airport property.

The enhanced training now gives Edmonton International Airport firefighters the ability to respond not just to aviation emergencies that occur on the airfield, but to structural and medical emergencies, dangerous goods incidents and motor vehicle collisions that occur on areas other than the airfield. This in turn enhances the fire fighting and rescue capabilities of the region that could have a significant impact on saving lives and property in the event of a major incident.

Attending today’s ceremony will be officials from Transport Canada, the Alberta Fire Commissioners Office and the Alberta Fire Training School, as well as fire department officials from Leduc County and other surrounding jurisdictions and Edmonton Airports.

Members of the media are invited to attend today’s graduation ceremony beginning at 1PM, December 13, 1999 at Flight Tech Aviation located at 9th Avenue & the Airport Service Road. Take the Devon turnoff from Highway 2 south and the first left onto the Airport Service Road. Parking is available on Flight Tech Aviation property.