Canadian Forces fire officials visit Niagara

Published Sept. 28, 2012
By Peter Borys
914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- Niagara firefighters were able to show off their capabilities and fire training pit to Canadian Forces fire officials here September 26.

Maj. Rick Dunning, 1 Canadian Air Division Fire Marshall for the Royal Canadian Air Force, who is in charge of all firefighting protection for the Canadian Air Force and Warrant Officer Ron Johnson, 8 Wing Canadian Forces Base Trenton Platoon Fire Chief were given a tour demonstration of Niagara's fire training capabilities.

The Canadians crossed the border to do a comparative analysis between what the U.S. Air Force is using to train their firefighters on their main operating bases compared to what Canadian Forces have.

"We are using the U.S. Air Force as our guiding principal," said Maj. Dunning. "Your Air Force has had so much success in establishing simulators on your bases. Instead of trying to re-invent the wheel, we are saying; let's look to our friends to the south. Let's see how they are doing it, and apply the lessons learned that you have over the years."

Niagara was their first stop. "What we are looking at is a fixed system," said Dunning. "We will then be heading to Patrick AFB, Fla. to look at a mobile system. We want to look from the U.S. perspective which one you prefer and why and how we can apply that to our own Air Force."

"We have bases that go from the North Pole and extend right across Canada," Dunning added. "Depending on the location, that will be the driver deciding on a fixed or mobile system."

Both Dunning and Warrant Officer Johnson were impressed with the simplicity of the system at Niagara.

"There is a real propensity to often go for the more technologically advanced, difficult systems," said Dunning. "This is one thing we want to avoid and the beauty of the system I see here is that this is very, very user-friendly." He stressed, "You are not relying on a whole team of technical experts. This is standard hardware that you have put together that's going to help train your firefighters and this is what we need."

Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Assistant Fire Chief Aaron McLane enjoyed demonstrating the capabilities of the aircraft live-fire training facility at Niagara.

"Here at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station we have the USAF-designed AFTF; very similar to the 163 other AFTFs throughout the Air Force," said McLane. "The Canadians were very impressed with our trainer because of its size and ease of operation," he added.

Maj. Dunning concluded by saying, "We always appreciate working with the U.S. Forces. We have such a great working relationship and always have fun doing so."

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