Boise Fire Department trains with Idaho Army National Guard

Photo By Capt. Robert Taylor | A member of the Boise Fire Department's dive/swift water rescue team trains April 3, 2018, on the Idaho Army National Guard's UH-60 hoist to prepare the organizations to work together on future domestic operations. 

BOISE, ID, UNITED STATES

04.06.2018

Story by Capt. Robert Taylor 

Idaho Army National Guard  

The Boise Fire Department conducted hoist training with the Idaho Army National Guard’s state aviation group April 2-6 at Gowen Field to facilitate future readiness for domestic operations.

The two agencies previously worked together in February 2017 to rescue a 68-year-old man in Weiser after flood waters left the man stranded in his house. The training was the result of an after-action review conducted from that rescue. 

During that rescue, an Idaho Army National Guard Soldier was lowered by hoist into the river after it was discovered fire fighters did not have the proper hoist training. Leaders from the Idaho Army National Guard and the Boise Fire Department agreed afterwards that joint training should occur so that in future operations, officials will have the option to lower a fire fighter with swift water rescue training and equipment into the water in a similar situation.

“The collaborative training we do with the Idaho National Guard is priceless,” said Paul Roberts, Boise Fire Department division chief of special operations. “This joint training that the Guard provides Boise Fire with is highly specialized and it provides the unique opportunity to learn techniques that could save a life. This training solidifies what we need to know to be successful in helicopter rescue scenarios.”

The training was designed to allow Boise Fire Department’s dive/swift water rescue team to become familiar with an aircraft’s hoist while wearing their river rescue gear. In addition, the training provided the opportunity for Soldiers and fire fights to work together outside of an emergency situation. The training was conducted over three days so that members from the fire department’s three shifts could complete the training. 

Fire fighters received classroom training and then practiced hooking into the hoist while still on the ground inside an aircraft hangar before completing familiarization training in a Black Hawk. Fire fighters trained on both the H-60 Black Hawk and the UH-72A Lakota.

“It’s easier to train a fire fighter that has swift water training to ride on the hoist than it is to train an Army hoist operator to become swift water qualified,” said senior firefighter Mike Barbero, who is also an Idaho Army National Guard helicopter pilot.

Barbero coordinated the training between the Idaho Army National Guard and the fire department.

In addition to completing the Weiser River recue, the 1-183rd Aviation Battalion also rescued a 55-year-old man stranded in the Frank Church Wilderness area in October 2017.

Firefighters teach local students fire safety

U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Cody Williams, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department station captain, helps a young student from Great Heath Academy try on firefighter equipment in Mildenhall, England, March 27, 2018. The firefighters showed the children what their gear is used for, explained how it protects them, and allowed the children to try on the gear. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee)

SFK, UNITED KINGDOM

04.02.2018

Story by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Lee 

100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs  

RAF MILDENHALL, England – Firefighters assigned to the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron visited primary school children at Great Heath Academy in Mildenhall to teach them about fire safety and prevention March 27.

A group of 90 children aged 5 to 6 met RAF Mildenhall firefighters and Sparky the Fire Dog. The firefighters attend several volunteer events throughout the year with local schools, focusing on educating children on fire safety, and always including their friend Sparky.

“We try to schedule our trips to coincide with the students learning about fire emergency services,” said Staff Sgt. Jacob Urry, 100th CES Fire Department crew chief. “When we talk to the children, we want to show them what we are able to do, how we fight fires and why we do it.”

As the firefighters showed the children what the protective gear is used for and how it protects them, the young students had the opportunity to try on the equipment.

The firefighters try to focus most of their volunteer efforts in October during Fire Prevention Week, to reinforce what children are learning in school.

“If the schools can’t come to the base, we go to them; they contact us and ask us to come teach their students,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Lewis. “This is one of our favorite things to do in our off time.”

Wildland firefighters support Army’s mission

USAG-HI wildland firefighters use Type 6 fire engines, which are more compact than traditional fire engines, but allow crews to access remote areas and traverse fire access roads.

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, UNITED STATES

03.29.2018

Story by Karen Iwamoto 

U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii  

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii’s 10 wildland firefighters do triple duty – at least – to support the Army’s mission in Hawaii. 

The only full-time wildland firefighters in the state, they help keep the community safe, they ensure Soldiers are able to train, and they play a role in protecting endangered species.

“There’s a lot of science and technology that goes into what we do, a lot of factors impact how big a fire gets, how fast it travels,” USAG-HI Wildland Fire Chief Charles Gibbs said.

“What we don’t want is an out-of control fire. If we get an out-of-control fire, we use more resources, like helicopter drops, and we shut down the ranges, so there’s no training for the Soldiers,” he added. “That causes a domino effect because each unit schedules their training ahead of time. If there’s a fire, they’re on hold and the unit scheduled after them is pushed back.”

An out-of-control-fire also increases the danger to people, property, cultural resources and a number of endangered species. Under USAG-HI’s Integrated Wildfire Management Plan, wildland firefighters must balance protecting all of these.

To minimize the risk of an out-of-control fire, the wildland firefighters monitor atmospheric conditions around the main firing range on Schofield Barracks – where annual records have shown fires are most likely to occur – and work with the Range Control Office to make sure Soldiers use the range under safe fire conditions.

USAG-HI wildland firefighters prepare for a controlled burn of Guinea grass near the Schofield Barracks main range in May 2017. These annual controlled burns cut down the amount of fire “fuel” and reduce the chances of an out-of-control fire. The controlled burns are regulated by state and federal agencies and must comply with safety standards. (Photo by Kayla Overton, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii)

To determine safe fire conditions are met, they use what’s called a Burning Index. This index measures factors such as ambient temperature, wind, weather and “fuel loads” (e.g., plants, other flammable material) to help them estimate the effort it would take to contain a fire on a given day. 

They also maintain fire and fuel breaks and fire access roads, which help to ensure they can reach a fire and keep it contained within boundaries.

And finally, they plan and conduct annual controlled burns – what Gibbs called “fighting fire with fire” – to reduce the amount of highly flammable guinea grass, an invasive species that was likely introduced as an agricultural grazing crop but has since spread beyond farmland in the area. Reducing the fuel load further reduces the chances of an out-of-control fire. 

It also benefits endangered species, said Justin Turnbo, USAG-HI’s wildland fire management officer, because the controlled burning of guinea grass may give native plants a better chance of re-establishing themselves.

There are approximately 40 endangered plant and animal species on Schofield Barracks, and the wildland firefighters play an integral role in the Army’s effort to safeguard them, said Paul Smith, a biologist with the Environmental Division of USAG-HI’s Directorate of Public Works. 

Turbo said that the government’s attitude toward controlled burns has changed over the years.

“Before, it was all about preventing all fires,” he said. “Now, there’s more promotion of the idea that fires are OK, that controlled burns can help. 

The Army is being proactive by having us go out and do these controlled burns, knowing that without it there would be wildfires.

“Fire is not part of Hawaii’s natural ecosystem,” he added. “But now we have all of this guinea grass, which is a fire-loving plant, and if we didn’t do these controlled burns, we would have more out-of-control fires.”

The wildland firefighters are cognizant of the impact fires – even controlled fires –have on the neighboring community, and one way they try to mitigate this is by scheduling them when high school graduations are not underway. This avoids impact during a time of community celebration.

“We try to be empathetic,” Turbo said. “We don’t want to impact the community, especially the elderly and children. We want good conditions, so the smoke climbs high, and there’s a wind to push it out over the ocean.

“Also, if things go bad, there are bad consequences not just for the community but for us,” he added, explaining that the Army must comply with federal laws and regulations or risk paying the price. 

In addition to the Endangered Species Act, these regulations include the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Sikes Act. 

He may also have meant this literally, as there are risks to the firefighters themselves, who are on the front lines of the flames and the smoke. 

Because of this, the job is physically demanding. 

The wildland firefighters must meet the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s training standards. Like the Soldiers, they adhere to a daily program of physical training – running, sit-ups, pushups, pull-ups and more – and must pass an annual physical exam during which they must walk (but not run) 3 miles in 45 minutes while wearing their firefighting gear, among other tasks.

USAG-HI’s wildland firefighters also work closely with their federal, state and county counterparts through memorandums of agreement that have them pool resources against wildland fires on non-Army land.

By playing this diverse role, wildland firefighters make sure the Army can fulfill its complex mission in Hawaii.

CPEN leaders gather for Wild Land Fire Table Top Exercise 2018

Photo By Lance Cpl. Haley McMenamin | Joe Hammett, 25 and 33 Areas facilities manager, attends the Wild Land Fire Table Top Exercise on Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 22, 2018. This exercise is a bi-annual event that provides area commanders of Marine Corps Installations West - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton with an understanding of the installation's concept of preparedness, response and effort in the event of a wildfire. (U .S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Stephen Beard) 

CAMP PENDLETON , CA, UNITED STATES
03.29.2018
Story by Cpl. Desiree D King
Marine Corps Installations West - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton 


In the early hours of Thursday morning Camp Pendleton Fire Department responded to a small vegetation fire which broke out in one of the base's training areas. At 2:00 a.m. the "all clear" was given, and by the time staff arrived for work, the only proof of its existence remained in a notification email, read over a morning cup of coffee.

2017 was a destructive fire season for California, with expenditures and damage reaching $180 billion and over one million acres burned, of which less than a tenth of a percent originated on Camp Pendleton. As this year's June to October fire season draws closer, leaders attended a bi-annual Wild Land Fire Table Top Exercise on Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 22, 2018, that provides area commanders with an understanding of the installations concept of preparedness, response, and effort in the event of a wildfire.

Multiple units were in attendance, each providing unique insight into the many aspects of wildfire response. Topics such as the history of fires on and around the base, Camp Pendleton Fire Department's (CPFD) roles and responsibilities and evacuation control were examined critically by those who would be involved in the decision-making processes.

"This [exercise] is more for the operations officers and commanders to have an awareness of their areas," said CPFD Deputy Fire Chief, Christopher Hubmer. "Now they'll go back to their groups and train their staff and give them expectations going forward."

Live ammunition training on Camp Pendleton takes place year-round to provide Marines with realistic when in combat environments. The exercises can be a source of concern for neighboring communities, as it holds the potential to start a brush fire, especially during rough weather conditions. Chief Hubmer addressed those concerns during his brief, indicating that CPFD accounts for heightened risk factors by conducting controlled burns. The burns systematically reduce flammable materials like dead brush and trees, essentially depriving a potential fire of fuel after it has burned to a certain point.

"We burn areas on purpose," Hubmer said, "We make it a safer place, so a potential fire doesn't leave the installation."

The base also utilizes a five-tiered Fire Danger Rating (FDR) system; low, moderate, high, very high, and extreme. Each tier comes with its own set of cautions and restrictions which provide range control officers, like Joe Vaineharrison, guidance on what types of training can take place in certain weather conditions.

"We start applying restrictions to what types of ammunition we can or can not shoot," explained Mr. Vaineharrison. "Whether it be tracers or airborne pyrotechnics, restrictions on smoke, artillery simulators, we startrestricting those back as the FDR goes up."

The table top exercise also featured a guided discussion where leaders briefed the audience on their response tactics in the face of a fire scenario. Not all of the scenarios were hypothetical, and many leaders touched on their respective responses to last December's off-base wildfire in Bonsall, Calif., dubbed the Lilac Fire.

Although neither Camp Pendleton nor its training was the source of the Lilac Fire, CPFD and Marine Corps assets assisted in battling the flames, which burned 4,100 acres approximately 14 miles outside the San Luis Rey Gate. Camp Pendleton also provided roads of safe travel for evacuees fleeing from neighboring communities and opened its stables to local horse owners as well, garnering national attention.

"What happens to our base affects our neighbors, and what happens to them affects us," Hubmer stated to the group.

Each year, Camp Pendleton conducts several training events to remain prepared in the event of a wildfire on the installation or if requested to support firefighting efforts outside of the installation. For more information on upcoming events and wildfire and emergency planning, visit www.pendleton.marines.mil, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Kingsley Field Fire Department triumphs at Seattle Stair Climb

From left, Captain Dan Bigham and Fire Fighters Ryan Barnes and Matthew Knitter, of the Kingsley Field Fire Department, wait their turn to climb the 69 stories up the Columbia building in Seattle, Wash., during the 27th Annual Seattle Stair Climb, March 11, 2018. The Seattle Stair Climb raises money for leukemia and lymphoma research. The Kingsley Field Fire Department team took third place during this year’s event. (Photo courtesy of the Kingsley Field Fire Department)

SEATTLE, WA, UNITED STATES

03.11.2018

Story by Master Sgt. Jennifer Shirar 

173rd Fighter Wing/Public Affairs  

On March 11, 2018 fire fighters from the Kingsley Field Fire Department placed third in the 27th Annual Seattle Stair Climb to raise money for leukemia and lymphoma research. Additionally, Assistant Fire Chief of Training, Derek Sherrell, placed second in the event with a time of 10:58, three seconds behind the first place climber. 

This highly competitive event features more than 2,000 professional, trained firefighters who compete on more than 200 individual teams. 

“Many spend years training for this specific event in the Pacific Northwest, the competition is fierce and the goal is to raise money for cancer research, and be the top dog…or top fire dawg!” said Howard Owens, Kingsley Field Deputy Fire Chief. 

The event is a 69-story stair climb wearing full firefighting gear and breathing from an oxygen tank. Only the top competitors climb 1,356 steps—788 vertical feet, without changing oxygen tanks.

This is Sherrell’s 10th year participating in this event.

“He trains daily and encourages and motivates his Kingsley brothers to do the same,” said Owens. 

When asked about his accomplishment, Sherrell shrugs it off and tries shift the focus off himself. 

“To me this event means community,” said Sherrell. “It is a way for us as a fire service family to come together as one team to raise money and awareness to blood cancers.”

He points to a statistic showing the two leading causes of firefighter fatalities on and off duty are cancer and cardiac related incidents. 

“By training for this event and raising money for research, we combat both of these issues,” added Sherrell.

This event also has a personal significance for the Kingsley Fire Fighters. One of their very own fire fighters, Tim Van Leeuwen, was diagnosed with a blood cancer in 2016. 

Van Leeuwan has been returned to full duty status, and was even able to participate in the event for the second year in a row as a survivor battalion climber.

“I am inspired to raise money and push my physical limits to show support for Tim, as well as all people who have lost their battles to blood cancers, those fighting the battle today, and all who will be diagnosed in the future,” says Sherrell. 

This year’s stair climb was successful in raising approximately 2.4 million dollars. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which organizes the event, has raised approximately one billion dollars total for cancer research.

The individuals that participated with Sherrell in this year’s event included: Captain’s Vince Lombardo, Derrick Laughlin, and Dan Bigham, and Fire Fighters Tim Van Leeuwen, Fred Heavilin, Ryan Barnes, Mathew Knitter, Nathan Markee, and Jesse Mullaney. 

“This was a true team event from our fire and emergency services,” added Owens. “Even the members that were not able to make the trip to support the climbers, volunteered to work backfill at home and support the 173rd Fighter Wing mission.”

The Kingsley Field Fire Department is responsible for delivering fire services to the flying mission of the 173rd Fighter Wing, as well as providing mutual aid for the Klamath County community.