Did somebody say fire?

Photo By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Emerick | U.S. Air Force Airmen 1st Class Edwin Rullan and Javier Gomez, 18th Civil Engineer firefighters, preform an inspection on Kadena's fire response vehicles to ensure emergency readiness. The daily life of a firefighter with the 18th CES on Kadena involves constant vigilance and plenty of training as one of the largest fire departments in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nick Emerick/Released) 

KADENA, OKINAWA, JAPAN
01.05.2017
Story by Airman 1st Class Nicholas Emerick
18th Wing Public Affairs

Airmen and contractors working at the fire department work 24-hour shifts. Each day begins much the same way, with roll call. Afterward, inspections occur of personal gear and fire trucks as well as turnover from the last day’s shift.

“Most of the time we are training; we have simulated aircraft and structural fires, as well as a flashover trainer, which is a big box allowing us to watch how a fire develops into a flashover and things to be aware of during real fires,” said Airman 1st Class Edwin Rullan, 18th CES firefighter . “As firefighters, we have to maintain our certifications, so accomplishing monthly training is a big part of what we do.”

From false alarms to dorm mishaps, the 18th CES fire department is always providing support across the base. The largest part of the job is supporting pilots anytime there is an in-flight emergency, firefighters provide a watchful eye to keep the base populace as safe as possible at all times, according to Gomez.

“Being able to help people is the best part of the job for me, it’s the reason I love this job,” said Gomez.

Working under conditions such as these build strong relationships within the department, living and working with their team, making sure to be the best they can be. Though the hours may be long, the service provided by these men and women is indispensable. The firefighters of Kadena may not have the most typical lives, but what they do have is a deep and abiding bond, according to Rullan.

“I enjoy the lifestyle, it’s not your typical nine-to-five job,” said Rullan. “The people you work with become your family.”

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South Carolina National Guard prepares for first winter storm 2017

Courtesy Photo | A South Carolina Army National Guard Soldier with a Vehicle Recovery Team with the 178th Engineer Battalion stages a vehicle in preparation for providing support to the South Carolina Highway Patrol in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Jan. 6, 2017, in response to the first expected winter storm of 2017. (Courtesy Photo) 

COLUMBIA, SC, UNITED STATES
01.06.2017
Story by Capt. Jessica Donnelly
108th Public Affairs Detachment

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – As South Carolina National Guard units across the state prepare for the first drill of the new year, Vehicle Recovery Teams (VRT) are organizing in response to the first winter storm of 2017.

Soldiers in the Upstate began staging vehicles and personnel, Jan. 6, to support the South Carolina Highway Patrol. The 228th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade serves as the operational control with Soldiers from the 178th Engineer Battalion and 4-118th Combat Arms Battalion making up the VRTs, explained U.S. Army Capt. Joseph Powell, 228th TTSB personnel officer.

A VRT consists of a wrecker asset, two Humvees, and six to eight people, he added. The South Carolina National Guard prepositions liaisons in areas expected to be hit the hardest with severe weather then coordinates with the teams to respond with assistance as needed.

“We’ll have our liaisons in place to coordinate with highway patrol to make sure we keep the highways clear for emergency response vehicles,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. William Bostic, 228th TTSB command sergeant major.

Bostic explained, the areas they are expecting to be impacted the most and are being monitored include interstate highways 77 and 26 from the state line inward as far as affected, as well as interstate highway 85 from state line to state line.

“We have troops on standby ready to respond if needed in support of the South Carolina Highway Patrol,” said Bostic.

The South Carolina National Guard was prepared to respond to the winter storm after recent training conducted with the highway patrol in November 2016. Soldiers with the 228th TTSB partnered with the civilian agency for Exercise Palmetto Lightning, where South Carolina National Guard liaisons staged at different locations to communicate to the VRTs. The liaisons relayed missions to the teams who would react based on a scenario, such as pulling a vehicle from a ditch or clearing a road to allow first responders access to ensure the safety of South Carolina citizens.

“We do this type of training every year so that we’re prepared to respond to winter weather,” added Bostic.

South Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team rescues hiker in Pickens County

Members of the South Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (SC-HART) responded to a call to rescue a hiker stranded on a mountain ledge at Table Rock State Park Jan. 5, 2017. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Roberto Di Giovine)

PICKENS, SC, UNITED STATES
01.05.2017
Story by Staff Sgt. Roberto Di Giovine and Capt. Brian Hare
South Carolina National Guar

PICKENS COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA - Members of the South Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (SC-HART) responded to a call to rescue a hiker stranded on a mountain ledge at Table Rock State Park Jan. 5, 2017.

The hiker was airlifted from the mountain at around 9:25 a.m. after reportedly being stranded for several hours after suffering a fall of approximately 70 feet. The request for assistance came from the Pickens County emergency management authorities.

According to crew reports, the request for support from SC-HART was initiated when rescuers on site realized that use of a helicopter was going to be the most effective means of reaching and extracting the hiker.

“It was key to use a helicopter to rescue the hiker. Due to difficult conditions, the rescuers on the ground couldn’t reach him,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Tripp Hutto, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot. “We could see from the air, it looked like the closest they could get to him was about 80 feet.”

After the call for support was received through State Emergency Management channels, both the civilian and military components of the SC-HART rescuers were simultaneously activated.

The South Carolina Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and crew deployed from McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover. They picked up a team of rescuers from Pickens County at the South Carolina National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility 2 in Greenville, prior to moving to Table Rock to conduct the rescue.

Following extraction, the SC-HART helicopter landed near a pre-positioned ambulance on site, where the hiker was released to Pickens County Emergency Medical Support personnel.

“The rescue went smoothly and was conducted without incident,” said Hutto. “The SC-HART team works well together due to partnerships developed through past training and real world events, including the statewide flooding in 2015. This allowed for a seamless rescue.”

Coast Guard responds to platform fire

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Giles

GRAND ISLE, LA, UNITED STATES

01.04.2017

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Giles 

U.S. Coast Guard District 8

Four offshore supply vessels extinguish a fire on an oil production platform fire near Grand Isle, Louisiana, January 5, 2017. There were four people aboard the platform who evacuated into the water and were recovered by the offshore supply vessel Mary Wyatt Milano. There were no reported injuries.(Coast Guard imagery courtesy of Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile)

EFR Marines conduct real world training

Marines conduct a controlled burn exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Dec. 13. The Marines with Expeditionary Firefighting Rescue conducted the training to prepare for and hone skills necessary to face real life scenarios. The training also served as an opportunity to strengthen camaradarie and enhance trust among the unit members. The Marines are with EFR, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron.

BEAUFORT, SC, UNITED STATES

12.12.2016

Story by Lance Cpl. Ashley Phillips 

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

Expeditionary Firefighting Rescue Marines conducted a controlled burn training exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Dec. 13.

The training provided the Marines an opportunity to prepare for real life scenarios they might encounter. The training simulates extinguishing a jet fire. The Marines burned jet fuel to make the training realistic.

“With this type of fire you really have to keep your head on the swivel,” said Cpl. Damien Sanders, a firefighter with Expeditionary Firefighting Rescue. “If you don’t properly extinguish it the fuel can reignite next to you or even behind you. When you go to our school you learn firefighting techniques with propane fires. This fire is different because fire burns jet fuel differently.”

The exercise took place at a training pit specially designed for fires. There is a mock aircraft surrounded by nozzles that spray jet fuel into the pit and out of the back of the plane. When the Marines are ready, the jet fuel is ignited by a flare.

“For many of these Marines they don’t have experience with a jet fuel fire,” said Sgt. Aaron Hosenfeld, a firefighter with Expeditionary Firefighting Rescue. “This is an entirely different ball game from what they are used too. There is no replacement for experience.”

To extinguish the fire, two pairs of Marines approach on either side of it. The first Marine holds the hand line or hose and controls the direction of the water. The second Marine stabilizes the first and watches for safety hazards. For the training there was also a pit safety officer watching each pair of Marines.

“Safety is paramount,” said Hosenfeld. “If I deem anything unsafe or see anything unsafe I will do one of two things. I will take over the hand line myself and have the Marines back out of the pit, or I will hand signal for the trucks to rain down water.”

The Marines also considered environmental safety at the pit. Because there was excess water that runs off of the pit they surrounded the back of the pit with a berm of fuel absorbing material. Another safety precaution was an extra tanker of water and a rapid intervention team on standby.

“It’s exciting to be able to do these,” said Sgt. David Waterfield, a firefighter with Expeditionary Firefighting Rescue. “This is my first time working a training fire with jet fuel. I think the experience is important, but it also builds camaraderie and trust. There is absolutely risk involved, so you have to trust each other.”