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| U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nick Hochmuth, a kitchen supervisor assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing, poses for a photo in Maui, Hi., Aug. 20, 2018. Earlier that day, Hochmuth extinguished a vehicle fire with a fire extinguisher outside the Mitchell Pauole Community Center in Molokai, Hi. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan W. Padish) |
08.20.2018
Story by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Padish
194th Wing
MOLOKAI, Hawaii (Aug. 20, 2018) — An Airman from Delanson, N.Y. who is taking part in the Tropic Care Maui County 2018 Innovative Readiness Training Molokai clinic responded to a vehicle fire Aug. 20 outside the Mitchell Pauole Community Center in Molokai, Hawaii.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nick Hochmuth, a kitchen supervisor assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing, ran from the kitchen at the community center to the site of the fire armed with nothing but a fire extinguisher.
Luckily, Hochmuth knew how to battle the blaze thanks to his volunteer activities back home.
“I’m a volunteer firefighter and fire police captain with the Delanson Volunteer Fire Department,” said Hochmuth. “So, it’s just second nature to grab what you need and go.”
Accordingly, Hochmuth did what he knows best: fight the fire.
“I was told there was a fire, so I grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran outside,” said Hochmuth. “I saw smoke coming out of a truck, so I ran over and put it out. It all happened pretty quickly.”
Indeed, Hochmuth’s experience fighting fires was apparent to onlookers. “He was as calm as could be,” said Wright. “You could tell he had training. He focused on it and did what had to be done. It was over really fast because he jumped into action.”
Hochmuth ran toward the fire to put it out, even though he did not know for certain whether he would be able to put it out. “I figured it was small enough,” said Hochmuth. “I did what I could and thankfully it worked.”
Still, Hochmuth recognized that things could have gone the other way for the people in the vehicle.
“If it didn’t work, they would have been in big trouble,” said Hochmuth.
Witnesses to the fire also recognized the danger involved.
“It was really dangerous,” said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Brandon Wilmer, a clinical nurse assigned to the 181st Intelligence Wing. “A fire like that could have been from fuel or whatever. It was pretty brave to step up and take care of it, and it could have been a lot worse. From that perspective, it was pretty important that he put it out as quickly as he did.”
The vehicle’s occupants and onlookers were grateful for Hochmuth’s actions.
“There was a huge crowd at that point with everyone gathered around, and everybody was thanking him,” said Wilmer. “Everybody was super happy that the fire was put out safely.”
Fortunately, Hochmuth was at the right place at the right time, and with his training and experience he was able to jump into action and extinguish the fire.
“It was just instinct,” said Hochmuth.
