190th ARW Emergency crews sent to Billard Airport

Emergency crews with the 190th Air Refueling Wing, Kansas Air National Guard, were standing by, ready to provide assistance at Billard Airport in Topeka as a small airplane had to make an emergency landing there August 19, 2016. The plane, a single-engine Bellanca, had landing gear issues and was burning fuel prior to landing. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Zachary Sheely/Released)

TOPEKA, KS, UNITED STATES

08.19.2016

Photo by Sgt. Zach Sheely 

Kansas Adjutant General's Department

 (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Zachary Sheely/Released)

Coast Guard, locals rescue 511 responding to vessel fire near San Juan

Passengers aboard the 561-foot Caribbean Fantasy ferry vessel use the marine escape system to awaiting lift rafts as they abandon the vessel a mile from San Juan Harbor, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. The Caribbean Fantasy had a fire start in the engine room that spread to other compartments forcing passengers and crew to abandon the vessel. U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Station San Juan, Puerto Rico.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

08.16.2016
Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Lally
U.S. Coast Guard District 7

A local San Juan, Puerto Rico-based tug crew use a fire hose to cool the hull of the 561-foot Caribbean Fantasy ferry vessel that caught fire earlier a mile from San Juan Harbor, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. The Caribbean Fantasy's engine room caught fire, which began to spread to other compartments forcing passengers and crew to abandon the ferry vessel. U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Station San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Caribbean Fantasy, a passenger ferry vessel, is towed to Pier 15 in San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016. 511 people were evacuated from the ship following a fire Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jasmine Mieszala)

NC Guard Trains with Rural Hall, Forsyth County First Responders

Operation Foothills Iron Horse at Rural Hall, North Carolina, Aug. 17, 2016, tests the readiness of the North Carolina National Guard's 42nd Civil Support Team to deploy for a joint response led by local first responders to natural and man-made chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. “Interoperability is the big thing so we can work together,” said Melton J. Sadler, director, Forsyth County Emergency Management Department.

RURAL HALL, NC, UNITED STATES
08.17.2016
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan
North Carolina National Guard

A small town nightmare; local first responders investigated a hostage situation at the Rural Hall train depot and find a mysterious chemical lab, Aug. 17, 2016. Local fire, rescue, emergency management and local SWAT team leaders decided the threat is greater than their resources and the incident commander called out the North Carolina National Guard (NCNG), this is, fortunately, a drill.

“We want to work with civilian first responders before the emergency so they know what we can do, and we can know what they can do,” said Army Capt. Barry Stern, an analytical scientist with the 42nd Civil Support Team.

The exercise, Foothills Iron Horse, tested the readiness of the NCNG to deploy its 42nd Civil Support Team, headquartered in Greenville, to a joint response incident led by local first responders. The 42nd has the capability to respond to natural and man-made chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.

“Interoperability is the big thing so we can work together,” said Melton J. Sadler, director, Forsyth County Emergency Management Department.

The exercise began as an emergency management response to a hostage crisis and hazardous chemical spill. Deputy Sheriffs, fire and rescue personnel swept the downtown rail yard in the center of the town of 3,000. The SWAT team rescued a hostage but when they secured surrounding buildings, they discovered a chemical lab in an abandoned warehouse.

Local leaders evaluated the reports from the field and checked with local hazardous material technicians. They decided that they needed more help and the 42nd CST was notified.

More than 100 miles away at the team’s armory in Greenville, NCNG Soldiers, each with military and scientific CBRN expertise, deploy. They are activated by the request and under the authority of local officials when the civilian incident commander on the ground determines a possible CBRN hazard. A convoy of vehicles with advanced laboratory and communications equipment, containment suits and other specialty gear is organized and in minutes, they are in route to Rural Hall.

Soon the convoy stages near the Rural Hall fire department. Maps are checked, photos reviewed and a plan made. A joint team of local firefighters and 42nd Soldiers will survey the site and determine what the threat to lives and property is and best response.

The team drives to the site. Several fire, rescue and sheriff patrol vehicles with lights flashing block the roads along the track. Soldiers breakout the equipment needed, air tanks, breathing apparatus, sensors, sample bags, radios, hazardous material (hazmat) suits and other gear to safely enter the suspected CBRN site.

After a last check of the hazmat seals and air tanks, the team enters the site.

The pace was slow and methodical. The members check the entrance with portable sensors for any CBRN threat. They make their way through the main room choked with dirty furniture and dusty storage boxes. Their goal was locating a small chemistry lab of a more recent tenant tucked in a corner of the warehouse.

Beakers, chemical containers, a thermometer and a tray of white crystals line a small, improvised table. The team moves carefully testing each component. The team swiped sterile swabs on surfaces checking for unique CBRN evidence. Other team members checked radiation and poison gas sensors. They kept in constant radio contact reporting what they discover.

After completing the examination of the lab, the team returned the fire station to share what they learned with the other exercise personnel.

“Working on the same problem shows how we can integrate,” said Sadler.

With their capabilities, the 42nd Civil Support Team become a valuable and unique disaster response asset for the state and nation.

18th CES Conducts Aircraft Barrier Maintenance.

Airmen from the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron prepare to reel in a cable inside an aircraft barrier shack Aug. 16, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. During a training scenario, Airmen from the 18th CES simulated an aircraft landing on an aircraft barrier. After the aircraft was secured, the cable used to catch the aircraft needed to be pulled back into position to be used again. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lynette M. Rolen)

KADENA, OKINAWA, JAPAN
08.19.2016
Story by Airman 1st Class Lynette Rolen
18th Wing Public Affairs

The morning’s intense, blistering heat did not stop Airmen from the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron from preparing for training while waves of heat rose from the flightline Aug. 16.

Members of the 18th CES power production unit and the fire department conducted training on readying an aircraft barrier in the event of an in-flight emergency (IFE).

In the event of an IFE, there are runways specifically set up and prepared with aircraft barriers. On each of these runways, one cable runs across the width and has two barrier shacks on either side of the cable. These shacks each contain a BAK-12 aircraft arresting system, which pulls the cable back into place after an aircraft comes in.

An aircraft barrier is similar to a retention cord system. As an aircraft comes in, it’s caught by the cable and jockeyed to a stopping point.

After an aircraft has safely stopped, Airmen inside the barrier shacks reel the cable back into position so it’s ready for the next aircraft.

“We came out here for training on running the barrier shacks for when an aircraft hits the barrier and takes it out during an in-flight emergency,” said Airman 1st Class Carson Price, 18th CES firefighter. “We were able to get the runway back in service faster to improve the mission.”

During the training, Price directed Airmen in the barrier shacks as they wound the cable back in. Timeliness was an important aspect because the barrier needed to be reactivated quickly in the event of another IFE.

“Our main mission is to have air superiority in the Pacific,” said Airman 1st Class Syed Hassan, 18th CES electrical power production and barrier maintenance technician. “Without fighters, we would not be able to do it. The entire purpose of this was to ensure fighters are able to return safely in the event of an emergency.”

To ensure the impact of an IFE isn’t too large, the power production unit is frequently out on the flightline doing barrier maintenance. Because of their experience, they were able to show the fire department their techniques for working the system in case of an event where the power production team couldn’t respond to an IFE.

Staff Sgt. Fardad Alimehri, 18th CES electrical power production and barrier maintenance technician, operated a forklift which carried the cable out during the training, simulating an aircraft being caught by the cable. Alimehri mentioned this training ensures Airmen are all on the same page for barrier reactivation.

“Everyone is willing to learn each other’s roles and responsibilities when it comes to performing this type of work,” said Alimehri. “Both firefighters and barrier maintenance; everyone is involved and doing their best to make sure pilots and aircraft are kept safe.”

Airman 1st Class Carson Price, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, directs personnel in aircraft barrier shacks Aug. 16, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. After an aircraft landing simulation, the cable of an aircraft barrier needed to be pulled back into the barrier shacks so it could be ready to use for other aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lynette M. Rolen)

U.S. MARINE CORPS P-19R VEHICLE PROGRAM RECEIVES APPROVAL FOR FULL RATE PRODUCTION

OSHKOSH, Wis. (August 18, 2016) — Oshkosh Defense, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) company, today announced that the U.S. Marine Corps has received Milestone C approval to begin Full Rate Production (FRP) on the P-19 Replacement (P-19R) Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle program. This approval represents a major milestone for the $192 million P-19R ARFF contract, which was awarded to Oshkosh in May 2013 to replace the P-19A fleet.

“The P-19R program represents a technological leap forward for the U.S. Marine Corps and its ability to respond quickly and effectively to aircraft emergencies,” said Pat Williams, Oshkosh Defense vice president and general manager of Army and Marine Corps programs. “The Oshkosh P-19R gives Marines greater off-road capability, speed and transportability for a full range of firefighting missions whether they’re at a military base or an expeditionary airfield.”

Since Oshkosh was awarded the P-19R contract, the Company has successfully completed all required government development testing and evaluation, and readiness reviews required to achieve Milestone C and move the program into Full Rate Production (FRP). In total, Oshkosh will deliver 164 P-19R ARFFs through 2019. The P-19R will replace the P-19A fleet, which was first fielded in 1984 and is reaching the end of its service life.

The Oshkosh® P-19R ARFF combines the industry’s most advanced fire apparatus and vehicle technologies to reach emergency scenes faster, and have more capability to manage a spectrum of emergency situations once they arrive to the scene. The P-19R delivers unprecedented levels acceleration with its 600 horsepower engine that allows for speeds up to 70 mph. The P-19R achieves “gold standard” performance in off-road environments with the Oshkosh TAK-4® independent suspension system. TAK-4 has been used on more than 20,000 military-class vehicles, and delivers 16 inches of independent wheel travel to provide greater all-terrain performance for off-runway emergencies. In addition, the TAK-4 system provides the payload capacity needed to carry 1,000 gallons of water, 130 gallons of foam agent, and 500 lbs of auxiliary firefighting agent. The roof and bumper turrets combined will discharge up to 750 gallons per minute.

The Oshkosh P-19R is equipped with Oshkosh’s Command Zone™ integrated control and diagnostics system. This fully-automated system provides access to vital vehicle information, and allows Marines to repair and troubleshoot vehicles, view real-time performance data and remotely access diagnostics information. The P-19R is also outfitted with advanced Striker® ARFF vehicle firefighting systems from Oshkosh Airport Products LLC, the industry-leading ARFF vehicle producer. The P-19R will be on display next month at the Modern Day Marine military expo at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.