VIDEO: The Zoneton Fire Department was one of many agencies that rushed to the scene of Tuesdayโs UPS plane crash, part of a region-wide response that experts say reflects years of specialized training for high-stakes incidents. โThis is probably one of the biggest responses our community has seen in a long time,โ said Rich Carlson with Zoneton Fire.
Carlson described it as a โthree-dimensional fireโ burning across multiple surfaces and directions, a scenario that can quickly become challenging. In all, about 50 fire trucks responded, including Zoneton.
โThey all played some role in the response, whether it was at the scene or whether it was to keep the other parts of the community safe while the firefighters were contending with the incident,โ Carlson said. The complexity of a plane crash demands a wide range of skills.
โIt was a plane crash, a hazardous materials incident, automobile accident, and people trapped in cars โ building searches, collapsed buildings,โ Carlson said. โSo there is a lot of skill sets to be put together.โ
Those skills are built early. Initial firefighter training includes hazardous materials, search and rescue, and structural collapse. Departments also sharpen their readiness through large-scale exercises.
