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Overview of Continental Flight 3407

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 30 th 2009. Continental Flight 3407. Bombardier Dash 8 Seating for 70 passengers

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Overview of Continental Flight 3407

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  1. 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

  2. Continental Flight 3407 • Bombardier Dash 8 • Seating for 70 passengers • Maximum Cruise Speed: 414 mph Source: T. Chmielowiec Jr.

  3. Continental Flight 3407 • Crashed in Clarence Center, NY • February 12, 2009 • 22:20 hours • Traveling from Newark, NJ to Buffalo, NY • 49 souls on board (all perished) • 1 ground fatality • Total 50 fatalities

  4. Weather • Temp: 33° F • Humidity: 92% • Winds: WSW @ 17mph • Gusts: 25 mph • Light snow / fog • Visibility: 3 miles • Ceiling: 2100 ft.

  5. The Night of • Call received at approximately 22:20 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

  6. 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

  7. Source: AP Source: NY Times

  8. Emergency Plan • Airport goes into full Emergency Plan • Plan was set up for On and Off Site Airport Operations Source: AP

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. Crash Site (cont.) • Niagara Falls Air Force Base called to respond with additional foam • Bulk of fire extinguishment 90 min. • Fire under control by 10:00 hours Feb. 13th • Vol. Fire Companies released from scene • ARFF assumes commands and fire watch

  13. Source: AP Source: AP

  14. “Eternal Flame” Source: NY Times

  15. “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

  16. Cleanup/ Salvage • Complete cooperation with NTSB, FBI, FAA, Local Agencies • Tools used- • Trowels • Garden shovels • Buckets • Sifting screens • Tarps • Clear plastic bags Source: AP

  17. Source: AP

  18. Source: AP

  19. Source: NTSB

  20. 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

  21. Whose In Charge? • Media coverage • Erie County • City of Buffalo • NTSB, FBI, FAA • Buffalo Airport • Law Enforcement • Political Gains

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

  23. Questions?

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