Embassy Highlight
United States Provides Equipment and Training to FSM Airport Firefighters
(March 8, 2008) The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently donated two brand new Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) fire trucks to the Airport Authority at each of the FSM's four international airports. The FAA also donated to each airport a 40' container full of state-of-the-art protective clothing, firefighting gear and equipment. The FAA-funded deliveries to the FSM, Palau, Marshall Islands, and Saipan amount to $13 million. U.S. contracted specialists are visiting each FSM state this month to conduct hands-on training for local ARFF personnel. With all of the new equipment in place, local fire professionals at each location practiced rescue and firefighting techniques in both high stress and low stress environments. This significant upgrade in personnel skills and safety equipment dramatically improves the disaster preparedness and emergency response abilities at each FSM airport.