Thank Goodness, This Is a Drill

Firefighters train for two of their most important roles in an airplane fire: clearing a fire-free path for evacuating passengers and rescuing incapacitated victims. These Federal Fire Department recruits train using a mock large-body aircraft, whose fire is fed by propane. Even though this is training, many factors create stressful situations that help recruits learn how to cope with disaster conditions while performing rescue tactics and maneuvers. Those factors include the cacophony created by the fire itself, water flowing through 1¾-inch hoses at 125 gallons per minute and noisy fire truck pumps.

TIME: Thursday, 10:52 a.m.
LOCATION: Honolulu Airport
PHOTOGRAPHER: David Croxford