HAGERSTOWN, MD – Officials are teaching emergency crews how to best handle a disastrous situation by adding fuel to the fire.

Fire at the airport, it's not something you would want to think about, but it's more common than you would think.
 
"About 90% of airport incidents happen on airport property, so it could come down in their area at any time," said Bill Keller, WVU Fire Service Coordinator.

The two-day aircraft crash rescue training is put on by West Virginia University’s Fire Services Program. It's a yearly refresher course for seasoned members of the 167th Air Guard Fire Department and something new for some local fire companies who would be first to respond if a real plane went down.

"The aircraft is on fire altogether, on the outside, on the inside," said Kenneth Atherton, 167th Airlift Wing Firefighter. "Maybe they had to come down in a field or even on an interstate," said Keller.

Using a live mobile fire simulator, one only three in the country, trainees are put through the ringer of nearly every scenario possible.

"Once you knock the fire down, it can kick back up, so that kind of hits you off guard," said Adam Carder, 167th Airlift Wing Firefighter.

"In structural firefighting, you use patterns. In this, you just sweep the whole compartment to protect the people inside," said Keith Cooper, Maugansville Fire Department.

You build up that extra man-power needed to get the job the done.

"I don't care how big or small the airport fire department is, they are going to need some extra help from the outside," said Keller.

The burning question on everyone's mind after seeing those incredible flames, is how do these guys do it, suiting up in up to 50 pounds of gear? It turns out, water is the key. The training continues on Thursday morning at 8 a.m. and then again at 6 p.m.