U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rafael Paredes tests water cannons

CLARK AIR BASE, PHILIPPINES
04.10.2019
Photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Harmon
3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade 

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rafael Paredes tests water cannons on an A/S32P-19A fire truck at Clark Air Base, Philippines, April 10, 2019, during Exercise Balikatan. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 test firefighting equipment every morning to ensure safety on the runway. Balikatan promotes regional security and humanitarian efforts for U.S. allies and partners. Paredes, a Nogales, Arizona native, is an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marine with MWSS-171. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Harmon)

Alaska Army Guardsmen save four after plane crash

A single-engine Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six crash-landed about 35 miles northeast of Bethel, April 11, 2019. Soldiers with the Alaska Army National Guard's 207th Aviation Battalion rescued the four survivors and transported them to Bethel, a coastal community in western Alaska that sits along the Kuskokwim River, inside the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Alaska State Troopers contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center to request a search and rescue mission out of Bethel, where an Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk and aircrew are stationed full-time. (Photo Credit: Courtesy)

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska
By Candis Olmstead, Alaska National Guard
April 15, 2019

Soldiers with the Alaska Army National Guard's 207th Aviation Battalion saved four individuals after they were in a plane crash about 35 miles northeast of Bethel, April 11.

Alaska State Troopers contacted the RCC Thursday to request a search and rescue mission out of Bethel, where an Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk and aircrew are stationed full-time.

"We were scheduled to depart for Dillingham earlier Thursday, but were delayed due to severe turbulence in our route of flight," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Cody Bjorklund, the Black Hawk command pilot on the mission. "Our delayed departure coincided with the RCC request, so we were able to respond immediately," he said.

Bjorklund said they were notified that the four passengers were uninjured, and they received grid coordinates for the crash site of the single-engine Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six from the RCC.

"It took us 20 minutes to reach the crash site, which was easily identified in the middle of the tundra," said Bjorklund.

According to the RCC, there is no substitute for a properly installed, properly registered 406 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitter. Upon manual or automatic activation, it gets 100 percent of the attention of RCC personnel and directs them to the beacon's location within minutes, prompting them to coordinate a rescue mission.

"The pilot did an excellent job in his emergency landing, and their operational 406 Beacon expedited their rescue," said Bjorklund.

The four passengers were returned to Bethel, a coastal community in western Alaska that sits along the Kuskokwim River, inside the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge.

The 207th Aviation Battalion was awarded four saves for this mission.

U.S. Air Force annual firefighter training burns at Shaw

U.S. Air National Guardsmen from Maine, Connecticut and New Hampshire Civil Engineer Squadrons extinguish a mock C-130 Hercules aircraft fire for a live fire training at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., March 19, 2019. The training consisted of controlling fires on a mock C-130 before entering to retain a fallen comrade. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kaitlyn Brewer)

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, UNITED STATES
04.12.2019
Story by Airman 1st Class Kaitlyn Brewer
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs 

Sixty Four Air National Guardsmen from Maine, Connecticut and New Hampshire performed live-fire aircraft burn training March 19.

The training is part of the required annual training for Air Force firefighters. It provides Airmen with the opportunity to gain experience putting out fires in a structure they are not used to, as well as build comradery between squadrons and prepare teams for deployments.

Guard members are allotted two days per month and in some cases two weeks per year of training time. Six years ago, the program was created for members of the Air National Guard in the six New England states, to simulate a real deployment, accomplishing all their annual Air Force training in one week. It also allows Airmen to have time to accomplish other training with their normal wing, maintaining combat readiness.

“We come down here for a week, knock out our training and learn from firefighters at different bases,” said Senior Airman Daniel Warner, 101st Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter. “It’s important to train with aircraft since we don’t have anything like this to practice on up North; it’s nice to be able to come down and touch up our skills.”

Members ordinarily train once throughout the year at the Savannah, Georgia Air National Guard Base. Each year one of the six states plans the training for all the states, rotating annually.

This year Maine was the designated state to organize all three units to come together and train. Once they arrived in Savannah, Georgia, they were informed the burn pit was not functioning. This allowed them the opportunity to train in a new environment with Team Shaw fire truck engines.

Live fire training is very difficult for members to get because of the snow and lack of availability, so with the help of Team Shaw, the units were able to get key training accomplished, said Chief Master Sgt. Robert Cross, 103rd Airlift Wing installation fire chief.

“Firefighters need to be able to work as a team,” said Cross. “What this allows us to do is build comradery and allow us senior non-commissioned officers to train auto-education techniques, like high and low angle rescue while also accomplishing the live fire training that is very hard for us to get up in the North.”

The training allows Airmen to practice total force training, meaning active duty, guard and reservists work as if they were deployed.

“It allows us to look at our programs and see how we train and fight together,” said Cross. “We may see that one state has a better way of attacking a fire, so we are able to learn from that, incorporate it and improve on our programs.”

Cross said he thanks Shaw for supporting their missions and allowing them to keep the mission going because, without this specific training, the overall week-long training would not have been as productive or meaningful for the Airmen.

2nd Civil Engineer Squadron conducts joint fire training with Shreveport Fire

B-52H bomber tail number 60-053 from the 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. proudly displays the American flag as it taxii's out on a local training mission. Aircraft 60-053, call sign Raider 21, went down off the coast of Guam July 21, 2008. All six crew members were lost. (USAF Photo by Technical Sergeant Robert J. Horstman) (Released) Nose art is "Louisiana Fire."

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LA, UNITED STATES
03.28.2019
Story by Airman Jacob Wrightsman
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs 

When a B-52 Stratofortress soars overhead, visions of American air power and global strike lethality scurry into the mind, but rarely is there any thought of what happens if disaster struck and a B-52 suddenly became engulfed in flames. Fortunately, the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department in conjunction with the Shreveport Fire Department practice joint live fire training to prepare for these kinds of emergencies.

“We are beyond fortunate that we have Barksdale as a cooperative training partner,” said Chief David L. Ebarb, aircraft rescue and firefighting chief for Shreveport Fire Department. “Barksdale and all of the fire department staff are so gracious for letting us come out here and train.”

This year, the 2nd CES Fire Department with Shreveport Fire Department conducted a live aircraft fire training using a simulated aircraft that was specifically designed to be set ablaze on March 21, 2019, at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Multiple underground gas lines were used to feed into the simulation aircraft to allow the flames to rapidly consume the aircraft and enable the flames to be quickly extinguished in the case of an emergency.

“The great thing about this is although the flames are real and the evolution is real, the situation is controlled,” said Ebarb. “You have safety, you have a red line, you have a chief in the tower to turn off the gas should there be a problem, so it’s kind of controlled chaos.”

Although this particular scenario involved an aircraft accident, the training site can be adjusted to simulate different emergency scenarios with multiple fires.

“We have multiple fires that we can ignite to simulate a number one engine fire, a number two engine fire, debris, three-dimensional fires and ground fires that simulate burning fuel, and that’s just for the exterior of the aircraft,” said Master Sgt. Paul J. Morris, assistant chief of training for the 2nd CES Fire Department. “Not saying that in any crash, all of these fires are going to happen at one time, but when something does happen, they’re not thrown through any loops.”

Additionally, the 2nd CES Fire Department and Shreveport Fire Department use the simulated aircraft as an opportunity to become proficient in multiple firefighting techniques.

“This lets us work on our nozzle practices, hose line advancing, firefighting techniques and it simulates using foam which is what we would use in the real world,” said Ebarb. “It’s just a phenomenal training aid that Barksdale lets us use.”

For Shreveport Fire Department, not only does this training provide unique learning opportunities but it also allows them to uphold their requirements for the Federal Aviation Administration.

“In our mutual aid agreement with Shreveport Fire Department, we conduct annual training so every March they can come out here and do the aircraft live fire training to fulfil their FAA training requirement,” said Morris.

This kind of training allows the 2nd CES Fire Department and the Shreveport Fire Department to hone their skills and learn how to better work together so they can quickly respond in need of an emergency.

“We always want to thank the members of the fire protection squadron, the leadership of Barksdale that allow us to come out and do this,” said Ebarb “It’s a real team effort to get us out here, and we appreciate it.”

So the next time a Barksdale B-52 flies overhead, there’s no need to worry about what will happen in the event of an accident because the coalition of the 2nd CES Fire Department and the Shreveport Fire Department have got it covered.

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, Day in the life: 20th CES fire department

A U.S. Airman assigned to the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department extinguishes a simulated aircraft fire at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., April 11, 2019. Various fire departments across the Air Force work alongside each other to complete mandatory aircraft and structural fire training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Maldonado)

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, UNITED STATES
04.12.2019
Story by Senior Airman Christopher Maldonado
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs 
 Subscribe 17

When a home bursts into flames, breathing becomes more difficult and chances of escape dwindle as the fire roars. With a gray haze overflowing the house, the air begins to turn more toxic and heat intensifies, all hope seems lost.

Bracing the raging beast are guardians dressed in protective gear and portable oxygen tanks, ready to enter the flame and fight to rescue those in danger.

In order to remain ready to respond to any calls, these firefighters live out of fire stations, performing everyday tasks such as working out, making meals and socializing with each other for 48 hours at a time.

Before officially beginning their day, all available personnel gather for a morning meeting to discuss any maintenance and training to be completed that day.

“Morning meetings involve the assistant chief and the station captain going over the tasks for the day,” said Tech. Sgt. Larry Diaz, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant chief of training and readiness. “The plan of action to complete them and any issues that there may be that need addressing. They also give updates on any new crew assignments.”

After the meeting firefighters disperse and inspect all vehicles and machinery in the station, ensuring they are functioning properly, should an incident occur.

“During our morning inspections we have a checklist that we need to review every morning prior to going on any calls,” said Senior Airman William Hough, 20th CES firefighter. “The checklist is comprised of the various tools and mechanisms inside the vehicle.”

Upon completing maintenance, they proceed to training. Training can range from classroom-based lectures to hands-on firefighting and CPR training.

“Throughout our career we train on numerous things,” said Senior Airman Myles Arrick, 20th CES driver operator. “We have medical advancement, F-16 egress, rope and hoisting, along with many other trainings.”

Arrick went on to say firefighters are always learning so they don’t forget the training necessary to save lives.

According to a publication by the U.S. Air Force official site, fire protection specialists deal with everything from brush fires to burning rocket fuel and hazardous material fires.

Receiving the chance to practice hands-on firefighting skills is vital to ensuring a flawless clearing of potential aircraft and structure fires. Being able to control the intensity of fires is vital to training both novice and experienced first responders.

Team Shaw members assigned to the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department gather for a morning meeting at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., April 9, 2019. All available personnel gather for a morning meeting to discuss any maintenance and training to be completed that day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Maldonado)     

“Performing structural and aircraft fire training is vital in enhancing our firefighter’s muscle memory,” said Diaz. “Should they respond to any of these incidents they will need to fall back on their training.”

After training for hours the firefighters begin their downtime at 3 p.m. In this time they take care of any personal tasks that may need to be done. But there is never truly “down” time for a group on-call for 48 hours.

When the sound system announces “standby for …” all personnel on deck prepare to rush to the vehicle bay to respond to the call. Emergencies are spontaneous so they must respond swiftly and efficiently.

With less than one minute to fully gear and depart, speed is key to mission success.

“My normal response when I hear “standby” is to stop what I am doing and listen to the announcement to gather all the information to know what crews need to respond,” said Diaz. “If it’s an inflight emergency then it will be a crash response, if it’s a vehicle accident then rescue will respond.”

In the evening each person goes about their own business. As the calls slow down the responders get a chance to cook their dinners, scroll through social media or catch-up on some sleep. Some are even visited by their loved ones, as they are confined to the sanctum of the fire department.

“It’s important to have family come over to the fire department because we as firefighters spend more time at work then we do with our family,” said Diaz. “Having them come over allows us to spend time with them. It also boosts morale, increases unity and aids in getting to know our firefighters on a personal level by having that relationship with their families.”

As the night comes to an end and the firefighters head to bed, they are greeted to the intercom announcing “standby for …” beginning the cycle all over again.