Overview of Continental Flight 3407

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Overview of Continental Flight 3407

• Clarence Center, NY
• Speaker Tom Chmielowiec Sr.
• PowerPoint Layout By Tom Chmielowiec Jr.

ARFF Working Group Convention, Dallas,
Texas August 30th 2009
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Continental Flight 3407

• Bombardier Dash 8
• Seating for 70 passengers
• Maximum Cruise Speed 414 mph

Source T. Chmielowiec Jr.
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Continental Flight 3407

• Crashed in Clarence Center, NY
• February 12, 2009
• 2220 hours
• Traveling from Newark, NJ to Buffalo, NY
• 49 souls on board (all perished)
• 1 ground fatality
• Total 50 fatalities

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Weather

• Temp 33 F
• Humidity 92
• Winds WSW _at_ 17mph
• Gusts 25 mph
• Light snow / fog
• Visibility 3 miles
• Ceiling 2100 ft.

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The Night of

• Call received at approximately 2220 for an
  aircraft missing off radar
• Information, location somewhere between the outer
  marker and Harris Hill, which is approximately 12
  miles northeast from airport
• All trucks idle in firehouse with no where to go

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• ARFF contacted Amherst Fire Control to find out
  if there were any reported airplanes down in
  their districts
• Amherst reported beginning to dispatch Clarence
  Center VFC to Long Ave for an Aircraft into a
  structure
• ARFF offers assistance to the crash site,
  Clarence Center Command asks for 2 vehicles from
  the ARFF (F-3, F-4)
• ARFF contacts Tower of the confirmation of the
  crash, and gives location

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Source AP
Source NY Times
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Emergency Plan

• Airport goes into full Emergency Plan
• Plan was set up for On and Off Site Airport
  Operations

Source AP
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On Site Airport Ops

• Includes
• Family Grief and Pastoral Counseling
• Total recall of ARFF personnel
• As personnel arrived at Firehouse
• Additional manpower was assigned to balance of
  ARFF equipment still in Firehouse
• Medical attention to grieving families in
  terminal
• To assist in setting up as liaison officers at
  Erie County EOC
• Additional manpower were prepping to go to site

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Off Site Airport Ops

• Airport Emergency Plan changed from SOPs to SOGs
• 12 minute response from Airport Firehouse to
  crash site
• 20 minute delay at crash site due to number of
  fire apparatus blocking the roads
• On site Clarence Center IC had to have fire
  apparatus moved so that ARFF apparatus could get
  into the scene

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Crash Site

• Massive confusion with Law Enforcement with Scene
  Safety and Perimeter Security, unable to get
  additional foam into the scene
• Additional phone calls from ARFF to Amherst Fire
  Control to clear Airport resource response
• Evacuation of neighbors and spectators from crash
  scene to make room for Emergency Responders

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Crash Site (cont.)

• Niagara Falls Air Force Base called to respond
  with additional foam
• Bulk of fire extinguishment 90 min.
• Fire under control by 1000 hours Feb. 13th
• Vol. Fire Companies released from scene
• ARFF assumes commands and fire watch

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Source AP
Source AP
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Eternal Flame
Source NY Times
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Eternal Flame (cont.)

• Report of magnesium burning underground
• Clean flame visible
• Dumped 450 lb. Purple K down vent hole
• Fire would go out, and reignite like a hot water
  tank
• Notified Gas Company again to shut down main
  pipeline
• Leak was discovered between the main and curb
  shut off
• Used inferred camera to show roaring furnace
  underground, evacuated personnel from debris
  cleanup
• Gas company shut down main
• ARFF flooded scene with 9,000 gal. water to
  extinguish underground fire

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Cleanup/ Salvage

• Complete cooperation with NTSB, FBI, FAA, Local
  Agencies
• Tools used-
• Trowels
• Garden shovels
• Buckets
• Sifting screens
• Tarps
• Clear plastic bags

Source AP
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Source AP
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Source AP
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Source NTSB
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Hospitality

• All Clarence Center Firefighters were removed off
  scene by their fire chief and provided home
  cooked meals 24/7 to remaining agencies for 14
  days and nights
• Surrounding communities supported the effort by
  bringing food and beverages to the fire hall, and
  command posts for preparation

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Whose In Charge?

• Media coverage
• Erie County
• City of Buffalo
• NTSB, FBI, FAA
• Buffalo Airport
• Law Enforcement
• Political Gains

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Final Remarks

• Training vs. Real Life
• ICS System (Town of Clarence/ Erie County)
• Equipment Contamination
• Recouping Expenses
• Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

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Questions?