Prospect Heights and Wheeling Fire Crews Train at Chicago Executive
 
By Battalion Chief Mark Oeltgen
November 4, 2017
 

As part of a shared mutual response agreement, Prospect Heights and Wheeling Fire Departments conducted refresher training on the Chicago Executive Airport. Crews trained together for preparation of possible aircraft incidents. Crews reviewed procedures with airport operations staff, as well as air traffic controllers within the CEA tower. Access is restricted to airport grounds in which aircraft move about, for the safety of those in the planes, as well as those who might be traveling on the ground. Crews from both departments drove various ambulances and fire trucks, including the "crash trucks" which both departments own. Though no planes reach the size and scale as those flying into and out of O'hare, many jets of considerable size are housed at Chicago Executive. Most firefighter's for Prospect Heights and Wheeling are "ARFF" (Aircraft Rescue and Fire fighting) certified. those new members who are not, are put through the training within the first few years after joining each respective department. This Training session transpired over 1 weeks time between October 23rd and October 28th.