Grand Forks AFB fire department conducts live fire training Published July 30, 2026 By Senior Airman Emma Teel 319th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The 319th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department conducted a live fire training July 14, 2026, here. The training consisted of flashover training, a search and rescue event and fire suppression training to give airmen the opportunity to work with actual smoke and flames in a controlled setting. “The live-fire training [provides] a safe environment to build confidence in yourself, in your gear and in your fellow firefighters,” said Senior Airman Noah Marcinkowski, firefighter with the 319th CES. “It’s moments in training like this that make you thankful for the opportunity to do this job.” The fire department holds mutual aid agreements and memorandums with 11 agencies within the surrounding civilian communities, allowing the 319th CES to provide training opportunities and emergency response to off base fire departments. “We invite our mutual aid partners to our structure trainer site and our Airport Rescue and Firefighting trainer site,” said Master Sgt. Eloy Garcia, deputy fire department chief for the 319th CES. “It’s an opportunity for them to go through their training operations so they can provide a higher standard of service and to create seamless integration during emergency operations.” Since January of 2026, the 319th CES has responded to 16 off base events to support neighboring counties. Many of the smaller municipal departments are run by volunteers who may require additional equipment and manpower to adequately extinguish a structure fire or wildfire. “Fire is everyone's fight,” said Garcia. “These trainings allow us to sharpen our skills, find our flaws and correct them so that when we have to deal with a real-life emergency, we will be ready.” Live fire training events are held ten times a year to ensure the 319th CES is prepared to respond to emergencies and offer support to local communities when, and where they need it most.