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| Senior Airman Hector Guemarezcolon, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, prepares to accomplish morning checkout on rescue-truck equipment April 22, 2015, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. Crews at the Malmstrom Fire Department operate on 24-hour shifts and must be in full gear and out the door within 60 seconds from the moment an alarm sounds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chris Willis) |
4/27/2015 -
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- When
the call comes in, the 341st Civil Engineer Squadron fire department is ready
to respond. Crews operate on 24-hour
shifts and must be in full gear and out the door within 60 seconds from the
moment an alarm sounds. The Malmstrom Fire Emergency Services Flight provides
an all-hazards emergency response capability, along with command and control
for the base.
"Many
people don't know that the department is much more than just dirt and water,
there are many capabilities the firefighters can provide," said Tech. Sgt.
Jared Dudden, 341st CES fire department station captain.
The FES
flight provides support 24/7 year round by 43 military and civilian firefighters.
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| Senior Airman James Weaver, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection driver, checks a backpack hand pump used to fight wildland fires April 22, 2015, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. Malmstrom firefighters also respond to wildland fires alongside local fire departments, following Mutual Aid requests. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chris Willis) |
"Our
flight would respond and take over emergency response operations and provide
command and control to emergencies in the missile field," said Dodson.
The FES
flight also supports mutual aid requests from fire agencies surrounding the
base. In this case, they send personnel
and equipment to assist with firefighting, rescue or hazardous materials
emergencies.
"It's
getting to be that time of year when farmers perform control fires and we are
ready to aid in the prevention of a wildfire," said Senior Airman James
Weaver, 341st CES fire department protection driver.
The
Malmstrom FES flight mission statement is:
"Protect our installation's people, property and environment while
also supporting the Global Mission."
"We
provide this service first and foremost with a robust fire prevention program
ensuring a safe working and living environment," said Dodson. "There is no nobler mission than
protecting other human beings from harm and ensuring mission
continuation."
"Our
department has the opportunity to provide expert services to such a wide-range
of units," said Henderson. "One unique aspect of our department is
the relationship we have with the Korean National Firefighters. It's very
important as they are truly the continuity allowing our department to be
successful. Like every organization here, the turnover rate of the average
one-year tour can make things difficult, however we couldn't ask for more
professional Korean Nationals than what we have in our department."
Currently
there are 13 Korean National firefighters working alongside Airmen assigned to
the 51st CES fire emergency services flight.
"We
like to work alongside the military firefighters and get along well with
them," said Chong Kyu Han, 51st CES firefighter. "I wish they could
stay longer than one year so we can keep the teams together longer."
Short tours
are one challenge Team Osan firefighters deal with while operating in settings
unlike any other, and therefore require fire protection specialists with
training unlike any other.
"Simply
put, we train... whether it's an aircraft, vehicle, in-doors or outside, we
carry a mindset not just to train until we get it right, but rather until we
can't get in wrong," said Henderson. "The Airmen in our department
are not told to be simply firefighters; they choose to follow their passion to save
life and property."
The fire
department provides assistance to the base and local community through an
average of 700 emergency responses each year.
"Those
you sweat and bleed with become like family in a short period of time,"
said Henderson. "I need to know and
trust that my brothers and sisters can and will perform, especially when my
life depends on how well they trained and are able to execute."
Even the
brand-new fire protection specialists assigned here have to train, endure,
battle and manage a range of potentially destructive and hazardous fires.
"This
is my first assignment and I couldn't be more excited," said Airman 1st
Class Harley Love-Hall, 51st CES fire protection apprentice from Sullivan, Mo.
"Our department and the Wing's missions are so important to the Korean
Peninsula. I'm proud to be a part of defending the freedom of over 51 million
people."
| by Chris Willis 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs |
