MCB Camp Pendleton firefighter strives to make difference

Photo By Cpl. Lukas Kalinauskas | Rusty Duke, right, a lieutenant with Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Fire Station #1, leads a morning meeting at Fire Station #1, MCB Camp Pendleton, California, June 15, 2018. Duke has been a firefighter for 18 years, protecting local communities from hundreds of fires and leading junior firefighters. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lukas Kalinauskas) 

UNITED STATES
06.19.2018
Story by Cpl. Lukas Kalinauskas
Marine Corps Installations West - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – “Every day is a regular day for us, but when we get a call, that could be the worst day of their life,” said Lt. Rusty Duke, a lieutenant with Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Fire Station #1.

Duke, 37, from San Clemente, Calif., has experienced a lot in his 18 years as a firefighter. Starting from a humble beginning as a volunteer firefighter with the Orange County Fire Authority, Duke got his foot in the door in 2008 when he began his firefighting career working for the United States Forest Service.

After starting in his current position as a firefighter at MCB Camp Pendleton 10 years ago, Duke has been a valuable part of preventing and combating wildfires on base. In 2017, there were 231 fires on base, and of those 231 fires, Duke was involved in containing and extinguishing many of them.

Duke was first interested in firefighting after taking a career aptitude test in high school. When the test revealed he was best suited to be a firefighter, police officer, or construction worker, he decided firefighting was the best fit for him.

“I didn’t grow up going to fire stations and getting excited by fire trucks, but once I started looking into it, I realized this job was meant for me,” said Duke.

As a firefighter, it’s Duke’s job to control and extinguish fires as well as respond to emergencies where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Whether there’s a cat stuck in a tree, someone getting attacked by a shark, or even a baby being born, Duke or one of his fellow firefighters have been there.

“I’ve delivered babies on the side of the street, in cars, in living rooms,” said Duke. “To be able to say I delivered a baby, I brought a life into the world, it’s a pretty good feeling.”

As a lieutenant, leader, and mentor, Duke ensures his junior firefighters strive to broaden their knowledge and skillsets by training on swift water rescue procedures, trench rescue techniques, building-collapse scenarios and any other emergencies a firefighter may face.

“If it doesn’t require a gun to deal with, people expect the fire department to deal with it, and we do; that’s what we’re here for,” said Joey Araiza, a captain with MCB Camp Pendleton Fire Station #1. He has worked with Duke for 10 years. “There’s never a dull moment with Lt. Duke, and he wants the best for other people.”

As Duke looks towards a promotion to captain he hopes he can continue to leave a lasting impression on his junior firefighters so they can be more effective first responders. As a captain, he can assume more responsibility and maintain positive change within the MCB Camp Pendleton Fire Department.

“I want my firefighters to be better than I am; that’s the legacy I wanna leave,” said Duke. “Even if it’s just one person, making a difference in that one person’s life is a very rewarding feeling.”

Fort McCoy Vehicle Recovery.

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

03.23.2018

Courtesy Photo

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office            

Members of the Directorate of Emergency Services Fire Department retrieve a vehicle from the water at an ice-covered Big Sandy Lake on South Post on March 23, 2018, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Firefighters completed diver training to remove the sunken vehicle from the bottom of the lake. Fort McCoy firefighters regularly train on a variety of life-saving skills to maintain certifications and readiness. (U.S. Army Photo by Jeremy Olivier, Directorate of Emergency Services Fire Department, Fort McCoy, Wis.)

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

04.13.2018

Story by Scott Sturkol           

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office            

Members of the Directorate of Emergency Services Fire Department completed diving training at an ice-covered Big Sandy Lake on South Post on March 23, 2018, at Fort McCoy, Wis. 

Firefighters held the training to remove a sunken vehicle from the bottom of the lake. 

Fort McCoy firefighters regularly train on a variety of life-saving skills to maintain certifications and readiness.

Learn more about Fort McCoy online at www.mccoy.army.mil, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter 

Air Force to assess water contamination risk at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base

Photo By 1st Lt. Andrew B Layton | The Air Force will conduct environmental sampling at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base in mid-April to assess the potential for drinking water contamination stemming from past firefighting activities. (Air National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Andrew Layton/released)

BATTLE CREEK, MI, UNITED STATES
04.12.2018
Story by 1st Lt. Andrew B Layton
110th Attack Wing 

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – The Air Force will conduct environmental sampling at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base in mid-April to assess the potential for drinking water contamination stemming from past firefighting activities.

The sampling is part of the Air Force’s proactive, service-wide investigation to assess potential risk to drinking water from Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfanate (PFOS), two compounds found in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF).

In 1970, the Air Force began using AFFF, which contains PFOS/PFOA. AFFF is the most efficient extinguishing method for petroleum fires and is widely used across the firefighting industry, to include all commercial airports, for protection of people and property.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a health advisory for PFOS and PFOA in 2016.

As part of the Air Force’s three-step approach — identify, respond, protect — a preliminary assessment was completed in 2015 that identified potential release areas where AFFF was used at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base. The groundwater sampling, which begins April 16th, will verify releases through groundwater, surface water, soil, and sediment sampling.

“The data and site information gathered throughout the investigation are intended to protect human health and minimize our environmental impact, both on and off the installation,” said Col. Bryan Teff, base commander. “The Air National Guard is a community-based organization, so we take our commitment to being good neighbors with the citizens of Battle Creek very seriously.”

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), working in conjunction with state and local health agencies, is already in the process of a proactive plan to sample drinking water wells around the base, according to MDEQ spokeswoman Melanie Brown.

"We want to test as a precaution, in order to determine if there is need for any further environmental investigation,” said Brown.

The Air Force’s investigation work and mitigation actions are guided by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, applicable state laws, and the EPA’s drinking water health advisory. The Air Force is moving forward aggressively in accordance with the CERCLA process to identify, define and mitigate potential contamination resulting from Air Force mission activities.

“Following the CERCLA process makes certain thorough investigative work is done,” said Teff. “The process also promotes accountability, community involvement, and long-term protection.”

The Air Force has replaced legacy firefighting foam at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base with a new, more environmentally responsible formula that contain no PFOS and only trace amounts of PFOA. Currently, fire protection services at W.K. Kellogg Airport are managed by the City of Battle Creek.

Coordination saved lives in Joint Training

U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers of the 468th Engineer Detachment (Firefighting), 368th Engineer Battalion, 302d Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 412th Theater Engineer Command based in Danvers, Mass., respond to a multi-vehicle accident during a Joint Training Exercise hosted by the Homestead-Miami Speedway and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department in Miami, Florida. Jan. 11, 2018. This JTE focused on building response capabilities and the seamless transition between the local first responders and the follow-on support provided by the National Guard and Active Army Soldiers. (U. S. Army Reserve Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood)

MIAMI, FL, UNITED STATES
04.12.2018
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood
412th Theater Engineer Command 

HOMESTEAD, Fla., -- Coordination between the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) and Active Army and U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) teams, including the 468th Engineer Detachment (Firefighting Headquarters), saved lives in a simulated biohazard explosion at the Homestead Speedway near here, Jan. 11, 2018.
The MDFR set up decontamination sites for itself and the Army units which allowed teams like the Detachment’s Urban Search and Rescue teams to respond to the scene even quicker.
“We can’t send rescuers into the hot-zone until that is set up so instead of having to wait until our own decontamination team set up their equipment we were able to push Soldiers out much faster,” noted Capt. Samuel Turner, commander of the detachment from Danvers, Massachusetts. “This type of coordination is the cornerstone of mutual aid. Anything we can do to support and facilitate each other ultimately supports the saving of lives.”
The Joint Training Exercise (JTE) between U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Army North, USARC, Florida National Guard and the MDFR focused on building response capabilities and the seamless transition between the local first responders and the follow-on support provided by the National Guard and Active Army Soldiers.
The Detachment of the 368th Engineer Battalion, 302d Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, and 412th Theater Engineer Command also was being evaluated by U.S. Army North Observer/Controller Trainers (OC/Ts).
Detachment safety noncommissioned officer, Sgt. Jason A. Benjamin, Sr., said the OC/Ts ensured that the 40-member plus Detachment, which has five firefighter teams, trained to standard and made on the spot corrections. This was a Quarterly Sustainment Training for the Detachment.
The Miami Dade Fire Rescue was the first to respond to the biohazard explosion in the scenario. Several sections of the bleachers were “destroyed”, there was a multi-vehicle accident near the bleachers. The latter meant that the Detachment had to wear the hazardous material protective suits and protective masks during the exercise.
“When they realized the extent of the scene, they reached out to the known Army units in the area doing training,” said Benjamin.
A Detachment reconnaissance element with several medics was the first on scene. They were greeted by role players, some bloodied, shouting that they were in pain. The element’s mission was to assess hazards and triage “victims.”
The team that relieved the reconnaissance team concentrated on the multi-vehicle accident. One car was upside down up against the end of the bleachers, a SUV was on its side next to it and a minivan was also on its side with its roof touching the rear wheel of the SUV.
Sgt. Ian Tweeddale of Everett, Mass., was the crew chief for this team (the 356th).
He said his first goal was to stabilize vehicles and ensure it was a safe working environment after learning that there were three victims in the accident.
“Then our plan of attack went from there,” said Tweeddale.
The three other teams responded to “victims” still in the bleachers and trapped in the “collapsed” bleachers.
Turner noted that all of the teams worked in the site several times throughout the day.
“Each taking over from the last in order to maintain proper rest cycles and keep our Soldiers in the fight,” said the police officer from Portland, Maine. “Keeping Soldiers in the fight,” comes down to the medics monitoring each Soldier before they enter and leave the “hot zone.”
The rest cycles are also based on wet bulb readings. Turner said in southern Florida, a 20/40 (minute) rest cycle is not uncommon. Another consideration is that the suits that only weigh about 10 pounds do not breathe well.
“(The medics) are able to identify Soldiers who may need a little more rehab or if teams as a whole require a change in the work schedule,” explained Turner.
There also were changes in the exercises like this.
Tweeddale, who has been in America’s Army Reserve for eight years and a firefighter for the last two years, remarked that he has seen several different scenarios in the training and this has helped him exercise his brain.
“It takes a lot of teamwork to get through these scenarios because they are always different,” commented the former combat engineer.
He may have summed up the exercise in the best way possible.
“We get to be the good guy on someone’s bad day so that is a lot of fun.”

Fire and Emergency Services: Ketamine vs. Fentanyl

Photo By Jack Adamyk | Carlos Torres, firefighter-paramedic, and Kevin Craven, firefighter-emergency medical technician, both with Fire and Emergency Services, demonstrate the use of a ketamine mixture for pain management on potential patients for an upcoming test trial aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., April 5.

BARSTOW, CA, UNITED STATES
04.12.2018
Story by Laurie Pearson
Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow 

Paramedics with Fire and Emergency Services are conducting a research trial using ketamine for pain relief aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif. and surrounding communities starting April 1.
“It will be used for pain control in lieu of our current medication which is Fentanyl. Fentanyl is an opioid-based narcotic, and due to the ongoing opioid crisis nationwide, emergency medical services have been faced with finding alternatives,” said Greg Kunkel, Emergency Medical Services chief with FES.
There are only three counties in California which have been accepted into this trial study: Riverside, Inland Counties Emergency Management Agency, which serves San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono counties, and Mountain Valley Emergency Management System which is in Modesto County. The trial will run for 18 months. It’s being organized by ICEMA for this area. The three agencies have been authorized by the state to conduct this study. In order to be included in the study, counties had to petition the state of California Emergency Medical Services Agency for authorization. Then ICEMA was selected as the administrator. ICEMA then sent requests for interest out to the various advanced life support fire departments for inclusion into the study.
Ketamine doesn’t have the addiction potential that Fentanyl has, which is why emergency medical services has taken a hard look Ketamine and its promising potential for pain control.
According to the Center for Disease Control:
The death rate of synthetic opioids other than methadone, which includes drugs such as
tramadol and fentanyl, increased by 72.2% from 2014 to 2015.1 Synthetic opioid death
rates (other than methadone) increased across all demographics, regions, and numerous
states. These reports indicate that increases in synthetic opioid-involved deaths are being
driven by increases in fentanyl-involved overdose deaths, which are likely due to illicitly-
manufactured fentanyl.
“Fentanyl is 50-100 times more potent than morphine,” said Kunkel. “If it’s a Fentanyl analogue such as Carfentanil, it can be as much as 10,000 times stronger than morphine. This has caused overdoses across the nation to skyrocket.”
Fentanyl is a central nervous system depressant which decreases breathing, heart rate, and level of consciousness to the point of death if not aggressively treated by medical personnel.
Ketamine gets down to the pain receptors and alters pain perception, Kunkel explained. It is also completely synthetic.
“Ketamine also does not create the euphoria you get with Fentanyl, morphine or heroin,” Kunkel said. “Therefore the addiction potential is low.”
We are hoping that, after the study, that ketamine is accepted to replace fentanyl for general pain control, in the pre-hospital environment because it will prove beneficial for the patient as a safer alternative to fentanyl.
Trauma and severe burns are just two examples of when ketamine would be administered.
“They have to be 15 years of age or older,” Kunkel said. “Their pain has to be at a five or greater on a 1-10 pain scale. They may not have taken any other narcotic pain control 6 hours prior to administration of ketamine to ensure clarity for the trial.”
Fire and Emergency Services personnel not only take care of all incidents on base, but supply mutual aid to the surrounding communities, as well. Some examples are motor vehicle accidents on the local highways or broken limbs from a fall, and sports injuries.
“We responded to a motor vehicle accident a couple of days ago on highway 15,” Kunkel said, “where the victim had a broken leg, and could have benefitted from administration of ketamine.”
-30-