Task Force Rattlesnake completes wildfire training

Photo By Capt. Jason Sweeney | A Cal Guard Task Force Rattlesnake team conducts a 2.5 mile hike through the hills and fog at Camp Roberts on March 28. The hike was part of a day of field training on the camp. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Jason Sweeney, California National Guard)

CAMP ROBERTS, CA, UNITED STATES

03.31.2019

Story by Capt. Jason Sweeney 

California National Guard  

CAMP ROBERTS, Calif. — The Cal Guard’s Task Force Rattlesnake completed wildland firefighting training with CAL FIRE at Camp Roberts on March 31 and has headed out to protect California’s communities vulnerable to wildfires.

The task force is made up of 100 Soldiers and Airmen who serve on five teams each led by a Cal Guard lieutenant and a non-commissioned-officer-in-charge (NCOIC) who report to a CAL FIRE captain. Two teams are stationed in Fresno and one team each is stationed in Monterey, Auburn and Redding. The teams will work alongside CAL FIRE to clear out potential “fuels,” such as dead trees, dry vegetation and other flammable material from locations throughout the state. 

Task Force Rattlesnake’s mission supports California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order to prepare a plan that will have the greatest impact on preventing the effects of deadly wildfires. The mission has taken on a sense of urgency due to the destructiveness of the past several fire seasons in the state.

“We’ve trained the task force to the normal level of military firefighters,” CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Damon Godden said. “We’ve taken an extra step and implemented chainsaw training for fuels reduction.”

About 160 Cal Guard Soldiers and Airmen volunteered for the mission. They arrived at Camp Roberts on California’s Central Coast on March 22 for a week of training with CAL FIRE Military Crew Liaison Advisors (MCADs). The Cal Guard members were issued firefighting personal protective equipment. They received classroom training and conducted field training on the camp’s hilly terrain. Of the volunteers, 100 were selected for the task force. They’ll be on orders for six months with the option to extend for another six months.

The training at Camp Roberts included the use of firefighting tools, such as the Pulaski and McLeod hand tools. The Cal Guardsmen were taught to cut fire lines, use fire hoses, protect themselves with fire shelters, among other skills.

“The California National Guard brings a lot of troops to the fight,” Godden said. “That helps us a lot. It only takes four or five CAL FIRE staff to work with over a hundred from the Cal Guard, so it gives us a lot of boots on the ground to get the job done. This kind of work is very arduous as far as physical labor, basically using chainsaws and hand tools on steep and uneven terrain. The work these troops will be doing will be in places where you can’t get heavy equipment, so it’s a lot of hiking and labor-intensive carrying of brush and stacking and using other equipment to help reduce the fuel.”

Cal Guard Lt. Col. Sean Byrne serves as the California National Guard Joint Operations Liaison to CAL FIRE, and has coordinated activities between the two agencies for the past five fire seasons. 

“Typically, we’ve deployed a battalion to serve as a hand crew task force,” Byrne said. “The model for Task Force Rattlesnake is much different because it’s a composite force from across the Cal Guard, many Soldiers from many units, and we also have Air Guard personnel on the task force. We bring a highly motivated force, a trainable force—disciplined personnel to perform these activities. It’s important that our service members take direction from CAL FIRE MCADs who are the subject-matter experts and responsible for our safety and our effectiveness. The nature of our force makes that easier. We’re a good fit.” 

On March 28 and 29, Task Force Rattlesnake headed to the recreational community of Cal Shasta Club on the shores of Lake Nacimiento located in rural countryside outside of Camp Roberts. The community lost 28 homes in the Chimney Fire of 2016, which destroyed a total of 49 homes and 21 other structures.

“We are so grateful as a community to have the California National Guard here,” said Phil Humfrey, Cal Shasta’s only full-time resident. “We have 120 members in our club. We’re a family community that’s been here since 1959.”

Humfrey said the community has been working with CAL FIRE to reduce the fire threat. “We spend a lot of money trimming trees and stuff, but there’s just so much to do.”

On a hill above Lake Nacimiento, CAL FIRE MCADs instructed the Cal Guardsmen on the use of chainsaws. During the training, the Cal Guardsmen cleared brush from a ravine. 

“The training is great for them and it’s a benefit for us,” Humfrey said. “The ravine they’re working in is covered with coyote brush, which is extremely flammable. They’re going to try to clear that out because if fire gets in that ravine, it will go up just like a chimney and take out the houses that are up the hill there.”

For Task Force Rattlesnake member Sgt. Michael Bargas, who serves with Battery A, 1st Battalion, 143rd Field Artillery Regiment, it was his first experience using a chainsaw, but not his first time on a firefighting hand crew. 

“I worked on a hand crew in 2015 for the Mad River and Butte fires and loved it,” he said. “When they said, hey, come out for a minimum of six months, I jumped on top of it.”

Second Lt. Jonathan Green, from the 115th Regional Support Group, is serving as the officer-in-charge of the Auburn team. “Everyone’s really motivated and excited to be a part of this project,” he said. “We’re forming a tight group. We’re excited to hit the ground, make progress and hopefully prevent future fires from happening.”

Task Force Rattlesnake is commanded by the Cal Guard’s Maj. Robert Langston, who works on the civilian side as a wildland firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service. Langston’s young son came up with the name for the task force.

“The feedback I’m getting from CAL FIRE is that Task Force Rattlesnake is doing great,” Langston said. “We’re here to make this mission a success, help the state with fuels management and make a positive impact on our communities by protecting them in the coming fire season.”

“I think we’re ready to get out there and serve the communities that we’ll be working in,” Byrne said. “We’re excited get out there and meet the Governor’s intent to make California safer.”

2019 Meritorious Awards ceremony at the Spokane Fire Department

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Ferris, 92nd Maintenance Group Air Force Repair Enhance Program technician and U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Blaine Holland, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Services superintendent receive a life-saving award from the Spokane Fire Department at the Spokane Fire Department Training Facility in Spokane, Washington, March 27, 2019. Ferris and Holland provided life-saving first-aid to the victim of a car accident. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lawrence Sena)

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE

By Airman 1st Class Lawrence Sena, 

92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs  

Published March 28, 2019

With the work day coming to an end and traffic building slowly into rush hour, it is a day just like any other. As the slow moving traffic continues along the highway, a large cloud of dust makes itself visible over the horizon, bringing all vehicles to a standstill and drivers to a state of concern. The dust begins to settle and visible through the haze lays a car tangled in a fence with the driver still inside.

It was at this moment when U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Blaine Holland, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Services superintendent, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Ferris, 92nd Maintenance Group Air Force Repair Enhancement Program technician, knew they needed to act fast.

“When I looked in the distance, I saw a cloud of dust so I pulled over to see what was happening,” said Holland. “When I walked up to the scene, I saw a car off the road and the driver in the seat with severe injuries to the abdomen. So I immediately directed another individual standing nearby to call 911.”

Ferris soon arrived to the scene and immediately began assisting Holland in providing compression to the driver’s injuries using his shirt until Spokane Tribal Police arrived to the scene and provided medical supplies to assist with the injuries.

“When I got to the vehicle and saw the result of the crash, I hoped that no one had died,” said Ferris. “While providing pressure on the wounds, I knew I couldn’t let this person bleed out and that I had to keep them awake until emergency medical technicians were on scene.”

In the heat of the moment, Holland called for additional support from the Fairchild Fire Department, Spokane Fire Department and ambulance services. The first responders arrived on-scene where they successfully pulled the victim out of the wreckage and transferred them to the hospital where emergency surgical teams were prepared and awaiting the ambulance’s arrival.

“A lot of what was going through my mind was that this person could pass out and die right now,” Holland said. “When the fire department arrived and took the driver away without any complications, it was the closest thing to a miracle I have ever seen.”

Both Holland and Ferris’ concerns for the victim would not stop there as they both found ways to reach out to the victim and their family.

“I went to the hospital the next morning and introduced myself to the driver’s family and let them know I was checking on them because I wanted to see how they were doing after the accident,” Holland said. “After about four or five days, I visited the driver and immediately they asked me, ‘Were you the one telling everyone what to do? You saved my life.’”

“Being able to meet the driver and hearing how thankful they were for us being there has been the highlight of my time in the Air Force,” Ferris added.

Airmen are required to be certified in Self Aid and Buddy Care every 18 months. The hands-on course encompasses basic life support and limb-saving techniques to help injured personnel survive in medical emergencies until professional medical help is available. Additional training may be required for Airmen whose duties regularly expose them to situations that require more in-depth care.

“In our business, we’re trained and exposed to scenarios similar to this kind of accident, so it’s easy to remain calm when those situations arise,” Holland said. “A week before the accident, I was in training and one of the scenarios involved treating a bleeding injury. It feels good knowing the training helped me act in confidence.”

Holland and Ferris both received a meritorious life-saving award from SFD for their quick actions in providing aid to the victim, allowing them to stabilize and transport the victim safely.

“I’m thankful to be part of the team that helped save the person’s life,” Holland added. “It took more than just me. With the help of the ambulance teams, fire department, law enforcement and doctors, this person is able to be reunited with their family.”

Due to Holland’s and Ferris’ ability to keep their composure during the emergency, along with the diligence of all fire and medical first responders, a life was able to be saved from what could have been a fatal accident.

See More: Here

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JAPAN

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JAPAN

04.03.2019

Photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew Seefeldt 

18th Wing Public Affairs  

A P-23 aircraft rescue and firefighting crash truck sprays water on a training aircraft during a training exercise, Apr. 3, 2019, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The P-23 Crash Truck is a larger version of the P-19 ARFF truck and has a larger fire suppression agent capacity. It is primarily assigned at transport, bomber, depot and cargo aircraft bases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew Seefeldt)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jessica Sergent, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron lead firefighter talks to Airman 1st Class Kevin Guerrero, 18th CES firefighter, during a training exercise, Apr. 3, 2019, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 18th CES's Fire and Emergency Services Flight responds to an average of 4,000 emergency calls annually and manages the threat and outcome of fire, rescue medical and environmental emergencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew Seefeldt)

HSC-25 evacuates cruise passenger, fights fire on Nimitz Hill

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jasen Moreno-Garcia | 190328-N-LN093-1380 SANTA RITA, Guam (March 28, 2019) An MH-60S helicopter, attached to the “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25, prepares to replenish a Bambi bucket to help extinguish a grass fire near Nimitz Hill. HSC-25 worked alongside first responders from Joint Region Marianas Fire and Emergency Services and the Guam Fire Department to extinguish a fire near Nimitz Hill. HSC-25 provides a multi-mission rotary wing capability for units in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations and maintains a Guam-based 24-hour search-and-rescue and medical evacuation capability, directly supporting U.S. Coast Guard and Joint Region Marianas. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jasen Moreno-Garcia/Released) 

ANDERSEN AIR BASE, GUAM
04.01.2019
Courtesy Story
Commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet     

ANDERSEN AIR BASE, Guam (March 29, 2018) – Sailors from the Guam-based “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 provided emergency medical lift for a cruise passenger in distress then assisted with firefighting efforts March 28.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam notified HSC-25 Tuesday that a Bulgarian man aboard MV Ocean Dream had experienced a medical emergency and needed medical evacuation. The rescue was not executed until Ocean Dream steamed closer to Guam and the alert crew launched at 3:30 pm Thursday. While the rescue mission was underway, HSC-25 was called upon by Joint Region Marianas to aid firefighting efforts in the vicinity of Nimitz Hill so a second aircraft was dispatched.

The HSC-25 Alert Search and Rescue led by Aircraft Commander Lt. Michael Sipah successfully retrieved the passenger in distress via airborne hoist and returned him to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam then reconfigured and launched to assist the firefighting effort with Guam Fire Rescue.

“Ocean Dream turned into the wind, making the hoisting evolution seamless,” said Sipah. “My crew worked great together, AWS2 Lee was outstanding at the hoist, AWS3 Morgan handled the rescue litter on deck of Ocean Dream, and of course HM2 Derrick and Lt. Kumetz were phenomenal at stabilizing the patient from the time of being lowered, to the transfer at Naval Hospital Guam.”

The incident was the 7th emergency call to HSC-25 by U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam and marks 4 recoveries during search and rescue and medical evacuations in 2019 to date.

“Thursday demonstrated the excellence of the Island Knight team. Being able to safely transition from a MEDEVAC to firefighting from day into night and then to finish the evening with aerial gunnery training is a credit to the professionalism of the aircrews," said HSC-25 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Frank Loforti. “Those homes are still standing today because of the strength of the interagency partnerships and the hard work of HSC-25's Sailors to ensure our aircraft are always ready. I couldn’t be prouder of the whole team.”

HSC-25 provides a multi-mission rotary wing capability for units in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations and maintains a Guam-based 24-hour search and rescue and medical evacuation capability, directly supporting U.S. Coast Guard and Joint Region Marianas. HSC-25 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron.

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, RP, GERMANY

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matthew Broussard, 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron fire prevention NCO in charge, left, briefs firefighters before a vehicle extrication exercise at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, March 26, 2019. This training helps firefighters learn how to effectively remove a victim out of a car that has been in an incident. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Valerie Seelye)

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, RP, GERMANY
04.04.2019
Story by Airman 1st Class Valerie Seelye
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs 

52nd CES Fire Department sparks interest in high school student 

“Just looking at a fire right in the face, it was right there, no further than a foot away from me. I’m just standing there, being told what to do, having to react,” reminisced one high school student here.

Omar Moylan, a senior at Spangdahlem High School, trained on his first live-fire exercise with the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department March 26, 2019, here, as part of the school’s Career Practicum program.

“I want to go into the Air Force as a firefighter,” said Moylan, who has been training with the department for two months. “It’s something that just interests me.”

The department conducted a live-fire aircraft burn exercise in the morning and concluded with vehicle extrication as part of their required training.

Live-fire exercises help firefighters learn how to extinguish engine or fuel pool fires, said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matthew Broussard, 52nd CES fire prevention NCO in charge.

“It’s one thing to train in the classroom or even outside, but when you actually see the aircraft and that fire, you apply some of those techniques we get to train with,” Broussard said.

A metal trainer aircraft lit by propane was used to simulate the fire. This allowed the firefighters to practice multiple strategies to put it out.
Moylan’s participation confirmed his desire to be a firefighter.

“When I was doing that,” Moylan said, “I was like, this is what I want to do. This is what I want to be.”

After the live-burn training, Moylan and a team of firefighters used high-pressure hydraulic equipment to conduct vehicle extrication training.

“We were using some very powerful tools to cut a car apart in a way that would not harm a patient inside,” Broussard said. “The point of that is for us to move quickly and effectively get a victim out of a car that’s been in an accident, or maybe having some kind of medical distress.”

This was the first time a student has trained to this extent with the fire department, said Broussard, who is Moylan’s main trainer.

“We had the privilege of having Omar come out,” Broussard said. “It was good to see how easily he was able to just fit right in that schedule. Once we started rolling, you could not tell who was someone assigned here and where Omar was. All the training he and I have accomplished in the last two months has really paid off.”

Moylan used the opportunity to learn from the fire team.

“I learned from an Airman today to stay calm and collected when you’re in there,” Moylan said. “Don’t freak out. Stay cool under pressure.”

Not everyone gets the chance to experience real firefighter training.

“Omar was out there using the same tools that a normal firefighter would use.” Broussard said. “We don’t really let many people do that. It was a very unique thing for him to get that experience.”

Moylan’s participation was part of the school’s program, which is designed to provide school-to-career experiences and training for students through a work practicum related to their career goal.

“I have not heard of a program quite like Spangdahlem has,” Broussard said. “We’ll do job shadows for a day and have students come out, see our trucks and put gear on, but this program is definitely a unique thing.”

Besides training as a firefighter, the program allows students to work at job sites including a salon, veterinary clinic, the 52nd Medical Group, the air traffic control tower, and other locations on base, said Kathy Campbell, Spangdahlem High School Career Practicum Technology teacher.

“We have gone from having 12 students at the beginning of this year to more than 20 who are signed up next year,” Campbell said.

This is the first year the program has been developed to this extent here.

Besides obtaining life experience, participating seniors earn credit towards graduation, Campbell said.

“I wish this was something available when I was in high school,” Broussard said. “I think Spangdahlem is on to something with this. It’s definitely preparing seniors on the verge of graduating for a career in whatever they may want to do.”

Moylan, who will continue training with the fire department until he graduates this spring, said he feels he now has an advantage when he enlists into the Air Force as a firefighter.

“How many kids go out there with their local fire department and put out fires with them?” Moylan said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”