Far-sighted investment in new equipment and training is ensuring that Kuwait International Airport's fire rescue service has the professional manpower and modern facilities to respond quickly and efficiently to any emergency incident. Rated ICAO Cat 9, the professional firefighters part of the Kuwait Fire Service Department (KFSD) operate from two strategically-located fire stations at KIA, enabling the crews to reach an incident at any point on the airfield in under three minutes. While the bulk of the firefighters' duties are thankfully routine deploying to oversee refueling at aircraft stands or providing free emergency training to airline employees and airport workers over the years KIA's fire crews have been called on to handle a range of aircraft emergencies. Incidents have covered everything from engine shut-downs on civil airliners to full scale alerts involving military transports and attack helicopters.No less important are KFSD's ground services. Fire service staff regularly patrol the airport, checking that entrances and emergency exits are kept clear, testing fire prevention systems and ensuring that all companies operating at KIA are in compliance with stringent fire regulations. The patrols also give firefighters valuable insight on the use and flammable contents of buildings, information that could be vital in the event of an incident.