NASA Ames fire department to conduct aircraft training burn

NASA Ames Research Center's fire department will run aircraft firefighting training exercises at Moffett Federal Airfield from Sept. 8 to 11, using a propane-fueled simulator.

By Middle East Affairs

September 6, 2026

The NASA insignia featuring a blue circle with white text spelling "NASA" crossed by a red diagonal swoosh and orbit lines, set against a black background. — NASA's official logo represents the agency that will be conducting aircraft firefighting training exercises at Moffett Federal Airfield. (NASA — Breaking News)

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The fire department at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley will conduct aircraft firefighting training at Moffett Federal Airfield beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8 through Friday, Sept. 11. The exercises will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PDT each day and use a propane-fueled aircraft fire simulator.

The propane fuel is designed to produce minimal smoke during the controlled training fires. Flames may be visible from U.S. Highway 101, which runs near the airfield.

The drills are intended to prepare Ames' first responders to handle a range of realistic aircraft firefighting scenarios.