On Continuous Standby With 30 Thousand Litres Of Water

How does one become a military firefighter?

László Tóth: At the moment there is not yet a single scheme in the defence forces, you can only become a firefighter after a selection process and training. Recruits have to master military skills first, they have their usual basic and specialised military trainings in the first stage. After that it is our turn, we have the appropriate selection process with the help of which we try to fill vacant posts. We focus primarily on younger soldiers in excellent physical condition because in this profession this is a requirement – this is why municipal fire brigades employ young people under 35 in top physical condition. It may happen that during rescue and firefighting operations firefighters have to lift heavy objects or overcome other obstacles and this requires great stamina, skilfulness and speed. The firefighters’ contests prove this – firemen basically have the same tasks they have in real life, during live actions. As regards the selection of drivers, applicants must have a type C driving licence and the PAV-1 aptitude test, in addition to the above. In order that a soldier can also be a firefighter he must obtain the necessary special qualifications. In the HDF, they have a four-month OKJ course for that, two months of theoretical preparation followed by two months of practical training at a municipal fire brigade. The course ends with exams and soldiers receive a firefighter certificate that is recognized in the civilian sphere as well. Firefighters are required to take examinations every three years and whenever there is a change in technology. Here they are classified into categories – first, second, or third class – but master level is the top, which is quite rare in this ‘profession’. Owing to the upcoming technological change, at the moment the entire personnel of the base are preparing for their compulsory exam which is due at the beginning of next month.

At airports people must have certain special skills as well. How can the personnel of the base airport obtain them?

László Tóth: There is an ’airport firefighting training’ organised by the Joint Forces Command when there are enough applicants on HDF-level to start a training. Traditionally, it is a four-week course in Szolnok, where experts from the JFC, Zrínyi Miklós University of National Defence, and the firefighters of the Szolnok airport are running theoretical and practical trainings in the special features of military aircraft in an emergency and during rescue and firefighting operations. This training also ends with an examination.

What are the requirements for a shift commander?

Tamás Pacher: There is a ten-month correspondence course for voluntary and facility firefighter commanders and those who complete it with success are entitled to fill this position. But in order to enroll this course you must be in the highest category.

How many vacant posts do you have at the moment and how many people drop out in a year?

László Tóth: In recent years, 90 per cent of our posts have been filled. Every year there are two or three soldiers who drop out, which is a considerable loss because it takes relatively long until someone becomes a ‘real’ military firefighter. For in this profession first you have to acquire the necessary theoretical knowledge and only after that can you become an established member of the team. Owing to its complexity, firefighting requires real teamwork, here everyone has a clear duty he has to perform conscientiously and precisely. A wrong move or decision may cost lives, even the fireman’s and his partner’s. Therefore knowledge is just one thing, but teamwork is also very important.

How many firefighters are there at the Pápa base and what kind of vehicles do you have?

Tamás Pacher: There are always fourteen firefighters and a signal soldier on 24-hour duty, on a rotation basis, and we have seven fire engines of which three are airport rapid intervention vehicles equipped with foam tenders and dry-powder extinguishers, and four are MAN fire engines the official name of which is heavy duty airport firefighting vehicles.

What is it that determines the number of vehicles on duty?

Tamás Pacher: It is obviously the flammability category of airplanes using the airport. The C-17 airplanes stationed at the base belong to category 8. Here we must always have 29,450 liters of water which can only be transported to the airport by MAN lorries so we have had to purchase new high-capacity fire trucks. They are the new pride of the air base: two Panther fire engines.

What do these fire engines know?

László Tóth: Their name – airport rescue firefighting vehicle – reflects their performance, for they outdo their predecessors and today these vehicles are used in every airport in the West. They have bigger water tanks and foam compound tanks and high-performance water cannons and pumps. While the water cannon on the top deck of a MAN vehicle has a capacity of 3,200 liter/minute, Panthers can pump out 7,000 liters of water in a minute. In other words, there are big differences which has resulted in the fact that with the two Panthers entering service, four fire engines can fulfil the requirements. The other advantage of Panthers is that their technology can be operated by a smaller staff because a lot of functions can be directly controlled from the cabin. There is another novelty in Panthers that can facilitate firefighting: the fire engine has a high-capacity ventilator to blow accumulated smoke out of enclosed spaces.

When can these new equipments enter service?

László Tóth: The two fire engines have already been tested by the troops, which was followed by the procedure of obtaining licences for activation. The latest information we have is that the licences have been issued and they have authorised the activation of the two new fire engines as of 6 May.

What are your relations like with the municipal fire brigade? Have they ever contacted you when they needed help?

Tamás Pacher: Our relationship is good and we often contact each other, even conduct regular site inspections together. The Pápa fire brigade has to find out about our firefighting capabilities on site in order that they can plan firefighting tasks in advance in case they have to help the barracks. Last year we did not receive any external requests but in earlier years we were deployed to areas outside the perimeter of the barracks and helped to put out a fire in the stubble-fields for instance but we were also asked several times to pump out inland waters. Today this assistance is largely influenced by the fact that now we must concentrate on our core function, ensuring the safety of aviation.