James Robert Anderson

James Robert Anderson Fire Protection Specialist Hazardous Materials Instructor Biography James "Jim" Anderson has worked 30 years in the fire service. He currently is a member of the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Working Group. He is also a working member of the US Air Force HAMMER IPT Team which addresses hazardous concerns such as burning aircraft composite materials. Mr. Anderson obtained experience with fire safety associated with rockets and missiles while assigned to Vandenberg AFB Fire Department.
Jim worked most of his years at the Sacramento Air Logistics Center, McClellan Air Force Base, California. During most of his career this was the largest industrial facility in Northern California with a major aircraft maintenance and repair depot, three laboratories, and a very busy airfield. Due to the kinds of activities at McClellan Air Force Base, Mr. Anderson responded to a large number of hazardous materials incidents, as well as aircraft emergencies on a regular basis. His experience with actual hazardous materials incidents included making entry into toxic environments, mitigating toxic releases, and performing incident command functions.
Mr. Anderson acquired extensive experience dealing with aircraft emergency situations as a firefighter, fire ground officer, and incident commander. In addition to firefighter, he has served in the following capacities:Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief of Training, and Fire Inspector. Other duties included Emergency Medical Services Coordinator.
Captain Anderson successfully drafted fire department response procedures for in-flight "thermal runaway" conditions in certain aircraft. In the late 1970s, there arose a concern about the hazardous effects of burning aircraft composite materials. Captain Anderson helped draft the first fire department response procedures for composite materials mishaps for his organization. This involved interfacing with a wide assortment of diverse agencies including but not limited to: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United States Navy, and United States Air Force Environmental Health personnel.
Battalion Chief Anderson received recognition from a cargo airline for his actions as incident commander during a hazardous cargo incident involving one of their aircraft. He was interviewed in the March 1992 issue of Firehouse Magazine because of his tactics employed at a large fire involving multiple structures in a shopping center. Throughout his years, Jim has conducted military and civilian aircraft firefighting/rescue classes to non-airport firefighting agencies.
Mr. Anderson has written numerous fire safety articles some of which have been published in the ARFF News Magazine. He developed two short courses about aircraft accidents and the hazards they pose. He has also written a textbook that relates to this subject.
He holds a California State College Teaching Credential, and a California Specialized Training Institute Instructor Certificate, Fire Instructor II Certification, Fire Officer II Certification, and Airport Firefighter Certificate, Hazardous Materials Specialist.
Mr. Anderson has taught classes in the following subjects: Hazardous Materials, Aircraft Hazards Awareness, Environmental Crimes Investigation, and Incident Command.
He teaches "Train the Trainer" courses in Disease Prevention For Emergency Responders throughout Northern and Southern California.
He has traveled to various facilities, which manufacture aircraft composite materials and build airplanes in order to obtain the latest knowledge in this subject area. As a result of this, he is called upon for consultation by fire departments needing information and guidelines relating to these potentially hazardous materials.
Mr. Anderson conducts educational presentations on aircraft fire safety, and hazardous materials throughout the United States.
He resides in the Sacramento area with his wife Nicki, has four children and one grand child.