On March 24, NATO Fire officials and members of Kandahar Air Wing participated in a real-time fire exercise evaluating the fire department’s proficiency in responding to a Mi-17 aircraft crash.

Using the KAF Mi-17 allowed officials to simulate a helicopter crash scenario while undergoing a NATO unit compliance inspection.

The scenario was a high-impact crash with an unknown quantity of passengers. Arriving crews were able to see one victim on the ground outside the helicopter. The fire fighters immediately deployed lines which made access available, completed shut down procedures and removed three patients from inside.

After completion of the exercise, all firefighters were given a comprehensive class on air condition systems and components, ingress procedures, crew extraction, emergency shut-down and high-hazard items that support combustion which are problematic to firefighters.

The exercise was intended to promote joint firefighting capability between KAF and KAW fire agencies by increasing Kandahar Airfield’s capability to provide real-time fire support to Kandahar Air Wing Fire Department.