Story by Senior Airman Alexis Orozco January 05, 2025 at 03:47PM In the predawn hours of New Year’s Eve, a deadly fireworks explosion in Hawaii sent shockwaves across the islands. By the end of the day, the lives of three people were tragically lost, and 20 more were injured. Six survivors, suffering severe burn injuries described as "warzone-level," were airlifted aboard an Air Force C-17 from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii to Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 4, 2025, where they would receive specialized care at Valleywise Medical Center’s renowned burn unit. The mission to safely transport these patients exemplified a seamless joint effort between the Air Force Reserve’s 944th Fighter Wing, the active-duty Air Force’s 56th Fighter Wing, the Phoenix Fire Department, and civilian medical professionals.
