The Observer, September 2003

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Council sponsors firefighter training

Early in October, the council and several partners will make it possible for land-based firefighters from coastal Alaska to travel to Valdez for training in fighting shipboard fires.

The occasion is the third Marine Firefighting for Land-based Firefighters Symposium organized by the council. It takes place Oct. 1-3 and will result in college credit from the Prince William Sound Community College.

The curriculum is to include live exercises with hands-on training for fighting fires on small vessels, at tank farms, and on oil tankers (subject to the availability of a tanker). The training is needed because, in most small communities, the local land-based fire department will be the only one available to respond to shipboard fires.

Marine firefighting is different from land-based firefighting in several ways. For example, marine firefighters have to have a dewatering plan for the vessel involved. Otherwise, the water used to extinguish the fire might sink the vessel.

The council’s partners in the event include the Alaska Division of Emergency Services; Tatitlek Chenega Chugach, LLC; Prince William Sound Community College; City of Valdez; Alaska Tanker Company; SeaRiver Maritime; Polar Tankers; Crowley Marine; Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.; and the South West Alaska Pilots Association.

Instructors for the symposium are all firefighters from West Coast fire departments.