13 New Airport Fire Officers Certified
Thirteen recruits from the Virgin Islands have completed mandatory training and are now certified as airport Fire Officers after attending courses at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Fire Training Research Centre. BVIAA says the certifications ensure regulatory compliance, meet minimum staffing needs and strengthen emergency response capability across airport operations.
Thirteen recruits from the Virgin Islands have been certified as Fire Officers after completing an intensive training programme designed to meet mandatory aviation firefighting standards. According to JTV Channel 55, the recruits attended the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Fire Training Research Centre where they received rigorous instruction intended to bring newly hired officers to the competency levels required within their first year of employment.
The British Virgin Islands Airports Authority (BVIAA) organised two cohorts for the course. The first group completed training from February 21–28, 2026, and the second cohort attended from June 13–20, 2026. BVIAA said the initiative is part of its ongoing commitment to regulatory compliance and the continued development of a skilled emergency response workforce.
BVIAA emphasised that the certifications are crucial to maintaining minimum staffing requirements for its Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (RFFS) and to ensuring a consistently high standard of emergency readiness across airport operations. The training follows BVIAA’s internal RFFS Manual and its regulatory obligations to keep airport fire and rescue services fully qualified and operationally ready.
For BVI residents, the newly certified officers mean enhanced safety at airports that are vital to travel, commerce and tourism. Fully trained and certified fire crews reduce risks during aircraft incidents and other emergencies, and help ensure that airport operations can continue with minimal disruption.
Maintaining a certified RFFS also supports the territory’s reputation with airlines and travellers who rely on robust safety standards. The Dallas Fort Worth training facility is known for offering practical, scenario-based instruction that mirrors real-world aviation emergencies.
BVIAA’s decision to send recruits there underscores the authority’s focus on hands-on, internationally recognised training models rather than classroom-only approaches. BVIAA described the programme as reflecting its continuous effort to keep the authority’s fire and rescue service fully certified and operationally capable.
The authority said it will continue investing in training and staffing to meet regulatory requirements and to safeguard airport users and the travelling public in the British Virgin Islands.
Primary source: VINO