See Smoke at DFW? Don't Worry - We're Training.
If you happen to see fire and burning activity at DFW Airport, it is our state-of-the-art Fire Training Research Center in action. During our training periods, you will see black smoke as a result of these training fires. Below, you will find the schedule for those training periods.
Fire Training Schedule
Training occurs nearly every day at our Fire Training Research Facility. Smoke activity will be visible near the southwest end of the Airport. We will continue to update this page with the most accurate scheduled dates. Please note changes can occur at any time and research activity may also extend past the scheduled times, especially during inclement weather conditions.
All times in CST
July
July 29 - 8 a.m. – noon
August
August 7 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 8 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 14 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 18 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 19 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 20 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 21 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 22 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 23 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 26 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 27 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 28 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 29 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 30 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
About
The DFW Fire Training Research Center trains fire fighters locally, nationally and internationally in the specialty of airport/aircraft fire fighting.
We use many different aircraft-designed mock-ups, and purposely ignite the mock-ups to train these fire fighters. During training periods you will see black smoke as a result of these training fires. The rising smoke that you see quickly dissipates into the atmosphere which is a way to know the smoke you see is from the training fires. The DFW FTRC uses clean burning propane and a liquid fuel called E-III – both are environmentally friendly.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) continually monitors the training fires to ensure state and federal guidelines are followed.