Each year, Paine Field Fire conducts a live fire training to meet its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 139 Airport Certification. This FAA requirement ensures that Paine Field personnel uses its ARFF apparatus proficiently during a live fire drill.

In the past few years, the airport sent its firefighters to other cities to receive the required Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) training and certification. Instead of traveling to the likes of Moses Lake, Charleston, S.C., Dallas, TX, Helena, MT, or Chicago, IL, to receive live fire training and certification,  Paine Field Snohomish County Airport staff will be teaming up with the Company 139FIRE to complete the training and certification on the airfield on June 14 and 15 in the ramp area adjacent to the Fire Station.

During the training and certification exercises, firefighters will practice effective techniques to extinguish propane fires on the exterior and interior of a simulated aircraft fuselage with water. The training will also allow firefighters to improve communication skills with local dispatchers, air traffic control operators, and mutual aid partners Boeing Fire, Everett Fire, Mukilteo Fire, and South County Fire.

The airport is asking the public to not be alarmed during the live fire training drills on June 14 and 15. There will be flames, smoke, or additional emergency personnel and equipment near the Paine Field Fire Station.