Liberia: Liberia Airport Authority Trains Fire Service Staff

Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) has embarked on training its staff serving the fire department.

Peter McMahon, managing director of Aviation Rescue Service, is the facilitator of the training. McMahon holds over 27 years of experience in emergency fire service and LAA, knowing the importance of ensuring its fire service department staff are adequately trained for potential fire outbreak at the Roberts International Airport (RIA), employed the expertise of the veteran fire service director.

According to a press statement from LAA, Managers, Supervisors and other staff of its Fire Fighting and Rescue Department need the training to take charge of fire outbreaks that might ensue.

The statement, signed by Ernest G. Sharpe, Communications and public affairs department of LAA, noted that, “The exercise which started on Wednesday, 9th November 2022 focuses on Pre-planning consideration when engaging Airport Fires, operational consideration and generic standards and operational procedures, as well as technical information of airport fires, aviation fuels, system and hazards, aircraft fire fighting and rescue operations, off airport fire incidents, among others.”

The facilitator, McMahon, is the former assistant chief Fire Officer of Air-services of Australia. He also served as director for International Aviation Fire Protection Association (IAFPA) of Australia.

He said from his interaction with the fire service staffs at RIA, he has come to understand that the employees have an insight on how to contain fire disaster, in case there is any, but noted that the management of the airport needs to provide adequate logistical support as well as more training in order to provide more satisfactory service.

The Acting Managing Director of the LAA, Martin J. Hayes, said his administration remains committed to building the human resource capacity of RIA, irrespective of the challenges the airport faces. He called on employees to work in ensuring that the airport remains safe for all its users in and out of the country.

Hayes thanked President Weah for the numerous support the government is providing the airport since his appointment as acting managing director.