USAFA first responders save life at county fair

Tommy Disario and Andrea Caraway saved the life of a lightning strike victim at the El Paso County fair July 19. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jason Gutierrez)

By Master Sgt. Heather Stanton,
U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published July 26, 2016

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --
Two first responders stationed here saved the life of a lightning strike victim at the El Paso County fair July 19.

Andrea Caraway and Tommy Disario, both fire inspectors for the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire and Emergency Services flight, volunteered to work at the fair’s medical tent as part of a mutual aid agreement with the Calhan Fire Department  in order to provide adequate coverage to the general public during the increased activity.

“We were staffing the medical tent when we heard a loud BOOM, and then heard a lot of commotion,” Caraway said. “We got on a response vehicle and responded as fair personnel were calling for medics to respond to a patient struck by lightning.”

Upon arrival to the scene, the two first responders found the woman lying on her back in the dirt.

“The patient was bluish-purple and not breathing,” Disario said. “A bystander explained he attempted compression's. I immediately opened the airway, set up a bag valve mask connected to oxygen and started ventilating the victim.”

Once the victim began breathing on her own, the Calhan Fire Department arrived and assisted with transporting the patient via Flight for Life to a facility for additional, specialized care.

“I don’t believe that my actions alone saved the patient but I believe the actions of everyone involved helped save the patient,” Caraway said. “An emergency of that nature is complicated and requires everyone to play a part. If anyone had delayed in their actions from calling 911, starting patient care, patient transport and then the receiving medical facility, the outcome could have been very different. It was a sequence of people and events that helped prevent the patient from suffering the worst possible scenario.”

Though both Disario and Caraway had never responded to a lightning strike emergency before, they were prepared to respond due to their training.

“I have responded to a vast amount of medical emergencies in over 16 years of being a firefighter, but I have never responded to an emergency of this nature,” Caraway said. “However, I have had training on responding to lightning emergencies. Our training has a positive effect on our responses because we are always ready at a moment’s notice to respond to a wide array of emergencies. We never know ahead of time what we will be responding to, so we train for a multitude of scenarios to provide the best possible care to the public.”

The 10th CES Fire and Emergency Services flight trains daily to respond to all phases of emergencies to include mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, according to Disario.

“The incident is another example of USAFA’s dedication to providing exceptional fire and emergency services,” Disario said. “It is what we train for each and every day. I feel great knowing my leadership has given me the necessary tools and training to confidently perform my job.”

Get a glimpse into the 10th CES Fire and Emergency Services flight at the annual USAFA Fire Department Open House, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 13 at Fire Station #1 on Pine Drive.

Firefighter, 2 others injured as roof collapses at Bellevue apartment fire.

By Emerson Clarridge and Katy Glover / World-Herald staff writers

Flames roared through a Bellevue apartment building Tuesday, collapsing its roof and leaving the residents of two dozen units homeless, either because of the blaze itself or water damage.

Three people were taken to the hospital, a Bellevue firefighter who wrenched his back and two people who suffered health problems, said Jack Syphers, spokesman for the Bellevue Fire Department. It was not clear how the firefighter’s injury occurred.

This was the second fire in less than a week at the Gateway Park Apartments, located in the 300 block of Fort Crook Road South. Authorities were working under the theory that this fire started on the second floor. On Friday, a fire ignited on a third-floor balcony, but caused much less damage. Both fires are under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Residents had last week’s fire in mind when they heard the alarms Tuesday.

Taysha Hubbard, 24, was in the shower when the fire alarm sounded. She said she thought the alarms were being tested due to Friday’s fire, and waited five minutes to leave her second-floor apartment.

When she looked out her door’s peephole, she said she saw a police officer in the hallway blocking access to the staircase on the north side of the building. Out of her balcony window, she said she saw “chunks of fire” fall toward the ground. She grabbed her dog and left the building, still wearing her robe. Hubbard said someone passing by gave her clothes.

Kimberly Frederick, 51, was in her third-floor apartment when the fire alarm sounded. She looked up and saw flames shooting outside her north-facing window.

Frederick said she screamed as she left her apartment with nothing and exited the south side of the complex.

She rounded the building to see the damage but moved away.

“I couldn’t watch it anymore,” she said. “It’s devastating to watch everything burn.”

Kathy Consbruck, 59, was at work in west Omaha when a friend called, saying the apartment where Consbruck lived was on fire.

When Consbruck arrived at the scene 30 minutes later, the road was blocked with emergency response vehicles. She did not see flames. She said her two small dogs were rescued from her first-floor apartment. Consbruck, who works for Bellevue University, said she planned to stay with her children in Lincoln Tuesday night.

“It’s just kind of numbing. Until I can get in there and actually see, I don’t want to think the worst,” she said of the damage.

Tuesday’s fire occurred in a different section of the same building as Friday’s fire. The two sections are separated by a fire wall and each section has 12 units.

The 12 apartments in the section that caught fire Tuesday were heavily damaged.

Only two units were damaged in Friday’s fire, but the rest were affected by water damage from Tuesday’s fire.

The number of displaced people was not available.

Tuesday’s fire began about 4 p.m. and was under control in about an hour, Syphers said.

The names and conditions of the people taken to Nebraska Medicine-Bellevue were not available. The firefighter is in his 20s. One of the civilians had a diabetic episode, and the other experienced breathing difficulties.

While putting out hot spots, the firefighters inside the building had to evacuate out of fear the roof would collapse.

Bellevue Fire Department Capt. Brian Staskiewicz said about 90 percent of the fire had been extinguished when crews decided to enter the building to put out spots that could rekindle the fire.

“I felt the floor shift, the floors buckled and some of the trusses came down,” he said.

He called for the evacuation.

Staskiewicz said the firefighters knew the roof collapse was possible; the structure was weakened by the fire and under significant “water weight.”

“You just have to be prepared for anything when you’re up on the third floor,” he said.

Firefighters from Omaha, Papillion and Offutt Air Force Base assisted at Tuesday’s blaze.

Contact the writer: 402-444-3106, emerson.clarridge@owh.com

Sailors conduct an aircraft crash drill.

Sailors conduct an aircraft crash drill aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen in the Makassar Strait, July 23, 2016. The guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance, USS Decatur and Momsen are supporting maritime security and stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific region. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jay C. Pugh 

Firefighter burns through competition

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Stephen Weaver, 23d Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection station chief, and his wife, Courtney, receive the American Legion’s Georgia firefighter of the year award from Thomas Nash, American Legion state commander, June 25, 2016, in Duluth, Ga. Weaver’s served in various leadership positions to include fire protection station chief, rescue air mobility squad team member, training manager, mobility manager and education advisor for 27 Personnel. (courtesy photo)

By Airman Daniel Snider
23rd Wing Public Affairs / Published July 18, 2016

Moody Air Force Base, Ga. --- An Airman assigned here was awarded American Legion’s 2015-16 Georgia Firefighter of the Year Award, June 25, in Duluth, Ga.

While more than 250 firefighters across Georgia were nominated by their leadership, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Stephen Weaver, 23d Civil Engineering Squadron fire protection station chief, stood out among the competition and took home the title.

The award is designed to recognize well-rounded firefighters who have exceeded duty requirements while also exemplifying the virtues of professionalism, dedication and a distinct pattern of community service to their local area, state or nation.

“It’s pretty amazing,” said Weaver. “I never thought that an accomplishment like that would be bestowed upon me. I just come to work every day, try to do my best at my job, and try to take care of the people I manage at the fire department.”

While Weaver remains humble, his accomplishments speak loudly.

As a technical sergeant, Weaver was selected to be an assistant chief of operations, a master sergeant position, and he was also the first choice to serve time as an interim first sergeant for two units. Weaver accomplished this while also volunteering 217 hours to base and local community functions.

According to one representative from the American Legion, all these factors ensured Weaver to be worthy of this recognition.

“A couple of things set him apart,” said Larry Osheim, American Legion Otranto Post 115 senior vice commander. “He substitute teaches at school and is very involved with the community. He’s also very professional in his firefighting duties.”

In fact, his professionalism led him to taking on the role of technical training instructor, achieving 3,120 teaching hours and the title of technical training master instructor. After teaching, Weaver came to Moody to direct the activities of approximately 22 fire personnel with whom he shares the credit.

“Coming back to the fire department was kind of like being a new firefighter,” said Weaver. “I had to kind of learn everything over again. A lot of it was my supervisor Stacey Maples, 23d CES assistant fire chief. Without him and the guys that are on shift with me, some other firefighter somewhere would be getting the recognition.”

Weaver makes it clear that firefighting is a group effort and winning this award was a team accomplishment.

“My role here isn’t always putting the gear on, but being on the radio, commanding and working these moving parts,” said Weaver. “All the guys in my shift, who work and do the job, those guys bust their hump day in and day out.”

After winning the state level award, Weaver will compete against firefighters across the nation, as well as a few overseas.

Airmen from the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department responded to a mutual aid request in Sumter, South Carolina, July 18.

Sumter firemen and 20th Civil Engineer Squadron firemen stand together during a fire response in Sumter S.C., July 18, 2016. Shaw provides Sumter with manpower and equipment while Sumter provides Shaw personnel with more opportunities for real world experiences. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman BrieAnna Stillman)

By Airman BrieAnna Stillman,
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published July 20, 2016

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Airmen from the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department responded to a mutual aid request in Sumter, South Carolina, July 18.

Sumter Fire Department personnel requested the assistance of the 20th CES Fire Department around noon due to a spreading building fire in the downtown area.

“It’s been a great relationship with Shaw,” said Brian Christmas, Sumter Fire Department chief. “There have been numerous hours where they jump in and they’re just like part of our team. We get in there and work together.”

There were approximately 90 firefighters from seven different fire departments across the county, as well as Red Cross and state mutual aid personnel who came to assist with the building fire which started at a local business on Magnolia Street.

“We rely on each other for mutual benefits frequently,” said Greg Farley, 20th CES Fire Department system fire chief. “We provide manpower and equipment, and Shaw gains real world experiences in the field, creating some of the best firemen.”

In 2015, the 20th CES Fire Department responded to 142 mutual aid requests from the city of Sumter.

Sumter Fire Department trains frequently with the 20th CES Fire Department to ensure that when the alarm rings, our Airmen are ready at a moment’s notice to support the local community, said Farley.

The fire was under control by around 7 p.m., after approximately six hours of intense firefighting.

Jonathan Jones, Columbia Fire Department deputy chief, briefs fellow firefighters before entering the hot zone in Sumter, S.C., July 18, 2016. The hot zone is the area surrounding the fire, that firefighters enter to put the fire out. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman BrieAnna Stillman)


Two Sumter Fire Department firefighters work together to pull a hose closer to a fire in Sumter S.C., July 18, 2016. Sumter relies on Team Shaw during bigger disasters for additional manpower and resources. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman BrieAnna Stillman)