U.S.
Air Force firefighters from 354th Civil Engineer Squadron Engine 82 prepare to
approach the site of a simulated large-scale 4.2-million gallon fuel spill
during an exercise June 17, 2015, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The
exercise is a federal requirement conducted tri-annually to train and prepare
fuels management and emergency services personnel in minimizing the
environmental impact of a spill and in protecting and preserving public health
and safety.
Story by Staff Sgt.
Kirsten Wicker
EIELSON AIR
FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Water and fuels system maintenance Airmen, along with
emergency responders and bioenvironmental engineering technicians, recently
took part in a large-scale 4.2-million gallon fuel spill exercise.
The exercise is a federal requirement
conducted tri-annually to train and prepare fuels management and emergency
services personnel in minimizing the environmental impact of a worst-case
scenario spill and in protecting and preserving public health and safety from
its effects.
“The focus
is very much about how we respond in an emergency situation; the notification
system will spark a chain reaction of all base agencies required for a fuel
spill,” said Senior Master Sgt. Dana Spilinek, the 354th Logistics Readiness
Squadron superintendent. “Fuel is toxic to water, soil and animals, so we must
ensure we are good stewards of the environment by responding quickly,
minimizing the spread, and getting it cleaned up quickly.”
The exercise
simulated a malfunction of the largest fuel tank on the base’s tank farm, which
holds an estimated 4.2-million gallons of fuel, enough to overtake the gravel
berm surrounding the tank and cause massive waves of fuel to flow out into the
soil and nearby water sources.
Immediately following a spill, the goal of
water and fuels system maintenance Airmen is to protect the environment from
the damaging effects of a fuel spill and get it cleaned up as quickly as
possible.
“We get to
work immediately to contain the fuel, constructing berms and preparing pumps
and vacuum hoses that will pick up the fuel from the ground, ” said Alan
Simmons, the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron base spill manager. “The pumps and
vacuums can suction about 6,000 gallons an hour. Once it has been retrieved, it
goes into an underground holding tank until it can be carried away to test it
for water and soil removal.”
With
Northern Edge in full swing, the exercise came at a good time, said Spilinek.
It provides critical training should a spill occur during high-speed
operations, and with twice the number of aircraft on the installation.
“This is an
opportunity to practice good interoperability between base agencies like fuels,
first responders and bioenvironmental,” Simmons said. “Improving our emergency
communication skills during a busy flying schedule is very good training
because that is much more like what could occur in a real-world scenario.”
Eielson is
well-equipped to handle any fuel spill from a few gallons to millions of
gallons. Expertise from managers like Simmons promotes a clean, safe
environment, while keeping jets filled with gas and ready to fly.
“The true
key to protecting the environment is to keep fuel from spreading by getting it
stabilized as quickly as possible and then get it cleaned up right away,” said
Simmons. “During Northern Edge, the operational tempo is fast and makes it a
little more difficult so practicing this week in case of a real spill keeps
everyone sharp.”
