June 15 , 2009

MFD PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL STAND DOWN

On June 17, 18, & 19, 2009, the Midland Fire Department will join other departments across the nation for the sixth annual Fire Fighter Safety Stand Down.  All nine stations will participate.  The International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Fighters sponsor the event.

Each of the Midland Fire Department’s three shifts will have an opportunity to participate.  The event urges all departments, career and volunteer, to suspend all non-emergency activity and instead focus entirely on firefighter safety.

This year's Stand Down, themed “Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health, and Survival are Your Responsibility,” will focus reducing injuries by calling attention to safety practices and improving them.  The theme reflects the need for personal responsibility and accountability within a strong safety culture.

A stand down is a method used by the military to correct an issue that has been identified as a problem throughout its ranks. This stand down is to raise the level of awareness toward fire fighter safety and call attention to the unacceptable number of deaths and injuries plaguing fire departments.

Media Contact: Steve Forbes/Training Chief at 685.7346

CITY STAGES AIRPORT DISASTER DRILL

On Saturday, June 20, 2009, Midland International Airport will host an Airport Disaster Drill.  The drill is scheduled to begin at approximately 8:15 a.m.  The scenario is not being released but involves an airline crash at Midland International.  Media interested in covering the event should gather at AOA Gate EV #3, (see attached map) at 8:00 a.m.  Media badges should be picked up at the Airport Operations Control Center (third floor) of Midland International Airport before Friday at 5:00 p.m., or from 6:00-7:30 a.m. on Saturday, at the Commerative Air Force Hangar where drill preparations will take place.  Badges are required for all media hoping to gather a story on drill day.

The drill will be staged, in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations, to evaluate the response times of emergency personnel involved in an actual airport emergency situation. The FAA requires that "each airport operator shall develop and maintain an airport emergency plan designed to minimize the possibility and extent of personal injury and property damage on the airport in an emergency.”  In addition, the airport must conduct a full-scale airport emergency plan exercise at least once every three years to ensure coordination with law enforcement, fire fighting and rescue agencies, medical resources, principle tenants at the airport and other interested persons. The first FAA mandated drill at the airport was in 1988.  The last full-scale exercise conducted at the Midland International Airport occurred in June 2006. 

Planning for this event began approximately six months ago.  Emergency and community agencies throughout the Midland/Odessa area and the surrounding communities will be participating in this exercise.  Midland Memorial Hospital, Medical Center Hospital, and Odessa Regional Hospital will all participate in the event.  In addition, community leaders (City Officials, City Council Members, Airport Board Members, etc.) have been invited to observe the activities.

This year’s drill will involve approximately 350 people, including firefighters, police officers and paramedics, ambulance drivers, and hospital personnel.  150-200 volunteers will play the role of dead and injured airline passengers and crewmembers.

Media Contact: Vaughn Donaldson/District Chief at 560.5207 or Justine Ruff at 560.2200

Can't find what you're looking for? Try our search engine.