VIDEO: The Fairbanks International Airport Police and Fire Department is unique in that their employees are 'cross trained' -- meaning every police officer is a firefighter, and every firefighter is a police officer.
"We are both a police and fire department, along as EMS as well. So we are a true public safety, kind of all hazards approach,” Chief Aaron Danielson said.
The officers have to perform different duties on different days.
"Even though an officer is assigned to a fire engine on Monday, on Tuesday he could be out doing drug and alcohol interventions on the East Ramp, or DUI patrol on Wednesday, and Thursday he could be back on a fire engine responding to aircraft emergencies and medical emergencies," said Deputy Chief Roger Stevener. “If the situation evolved fast enough and to a great enough degree, he could even do both things in the same day."
Because the station has to have officers doing both jobs every day, they have equipment that allows them to fight fires with minimal staff.