Firefighters at Naval Air Station Oceana doused the burning mockup of an F-18, as volunteers posed as victims, Tuesday morning.
It was all part of a series of exercises, designed to simulate how federal and local first responders work together in a crisis.
“This exercise is an important step we take to prepare for this event. Every detail counts when it comes to safety and preparedness,” said NAS Oceana Executive Officer, Capt. Rob Littman. “By rehearsing these emergency scenarios alongside our community partners, we are continually improving our ability to respond to emergencies.”
Done in conjunction with the city, the drills also include a mock car crash and a police action. The exercises involved 100 people from the Navy and Virginia Beach. Similar drills are done each year in the lead up to the annual air show, scheduled for September 20 and 21.
First responders established a unified command post to coordinate their efforts to streamline their ability to respond, triage, treat, transport and track patients during the simulated aircraft mishap.
There has never been a plane crash at the Oceana Air Show, though in April, a pilot died in a crash during the lead-up to the air show at Langley. In 2012, a fighter from Oceana crashed into a neighborhood in Virginia Beach.
NAS Oceana has mutual aid agreements with surrounding communities. In a crisis, federal first responders will help local communities. Local departments receive additional training in specialized areas of firefighting, such as plane crashes.
