05/28/2026
Throughout the month of May, the members of the Harrisburg International Airport Fire Department proudly demonstrated their continued commitment to training, preparedness, and public safety.
Our personnel successfully completed FAA Part 139 Live Burn Training. FAA Part 139 training ensures airport firefighters remain prepared to respond to aircraft emergencies through realistic, hands-on live fire scenarios that simulate aviation-related incidents involving fuel fires, aircraft rescue tactics, emergency vehicle operations, extinguishing agents, and rapid incident mitigation. This training strengthens firefighters’ ability to protect passengers, flight crews, airport personnel, and the traveling public safely and effectively during high-risk emergencies.
Two department members successfully completed Confined Space Technician Certification training. This training follows the professional qualification standards established in NFPA 1006 (Standard for Technical Rescue Personnel Professional Qualifications) and aligns with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 Permit-Required Confined Spaces. Personnel developed advanced skills in atmospheric monitoring, hazard recognition, rope systems, patient packaging, rescue operations, permitting, and incident command to safely respond to high-risk emergencies.
HIAFD remains a participating agency of the South-Central Task Force. SCTF is a regional technical rescue team comprised of specially trained emergency responders from multiple fire departments and agencies throughout South-Central Pennsylvania. The task force provides advanced rescue capabilities for large-scale, complex, and highly specialized incidents that exceed the resources of a single department. HIAFD personnel participated in a 12-hour Wide Area Vigilance exercise, applying specialized technical rescue skills during realistic disaster scenarios involving rope rescue, confined spaces, breaching, and structural stabilization.
Members also completed extensive water rescue training utilizing our One Boat Inflatable Rescue Boat and Rock Proof River Jet Rescue Boat, strengthening our capability to respond to emergencies on the Susquehanna River and surrounding waterways. Training focused on boat operations, rescue techniques, victim recovery, scene safety, and coordinated response operations.
To conclude a demanding and productive month, HIAFD personnel worked tirelessly throughout the Central PA Airshow, ensuring the safety and security of thousands of attendees while maintaining uninterrupted airport emergency response coverage and remaining prepared to respond at a moment’s notice. In coordination with our mutual aid partners, HIAFD provided Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) and marine rescue capabilities to support event operations and meet the operational requirements of the Blue Angels demonstration team. Through extensive planning, interagency coordination, and operational readiness, personnel helped ensure the event was conducted safely while maintaining mission readiness across Harrisburg International Airport.
In total, HIAFD members completed 548 training hours during the month of May—a reflection of the dedication, professionalism, and readiness our personnel bring to service every day.
We extend our sincere appreciation to our mutual aid partners, including Life Lion EMS, Emergency Health Services Federation, Dauphin County Department of Public Safety, Harrisburg Bureau of Fire Rheems Fire Department, Lower Swatara Fire Department, Middletown Volunteer Fire Department, Londonderry Fire Company, Fairview Township Fire Department, Maytown-East Donegal Township Fire Department, Columbia Borough Fire Department Station 80, Bainbridge Fire Company 71, Elizabethtown Fire Dept Station 74, Rescue Fire Company #37, Dauphin - Middle Paxton Fire Company, Wrightsville Fire, and 193rd ANG Fire Dept for their support and collaboration.
At HIAFD, preparedness is not just training—it is our commitment to protecting Harrisburg International Airport and the surrounding community every day.
Photo Credit: Chris Mowry, Easton Watkins, Tim Coover
