Video: During the search and rescue exercise, multiple agencies’ assets and crews launched including ten Coast Guard Station Kauai crew members

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir | Members of the Univesity of Hawaii's EMS training program conduct triage of simulated crash victims alongside Kauai County Fire Fighters during a mass rescue exercise at Ahukini Recreational State Park in Lihue, Hawaii, April 26, 2019. During the search and rescue exercise, multiple agencies’ assets and crews launched including ten Coast Guard Station Kauai crewmembers and more than 40 high school students from Kapaa High School to simulate passengers in distress. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir/Released)

LIHUE, HI, UNITED STATES
04.26.2019
Story by Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir
U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Hawaii Pacific

LIHUE, Hawaii — The Coast Guard, Kauai Fire Department, HDOT Airports Division, HDOT Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Section, Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services, Kauai Police Department, American Medical Response, and Wilcox Medical Center conducted a full-scale mass rescue exercise Friday at Ahukini Recreational Pier State Park and Hanamaulu Bay.

This is the first airport response exercise of this scale conducted in an ocean environment in the state and is essential based on the volume of air traffic in the region and the proximity of most airports to the ocean.

LIHUE, HI, UNITED STATES

04.25.2019

Video by Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir 

U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Hawaii Pacific  

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Training Capt. Tyrese Siale, Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services describes the joint full-scale mass rescue exercise conducted April 26, 2019, at Ahukini Recreational Pier State Park and Hanamaulu Bay. This exercise, a triennial FAA requirement for the Lihue Airport Response Fire Fighting department, tested local agencies ability working together and evaluated interagency communications, response plans, and responders’ actions to a simulated downed commercial airliner. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir/Released)

This exercise, a triennial FAA requirement for the Lihue Airport Response Fire Fighting department, tested local agencies ability working together and evaluated interagency communications, response plans, and responders’ actions to a simulated downed commercial airliner. It began with a mayday call for an airliner suffering a birdstrike and performing a controlled ditch into the ocean with 80 passengers and five crew.

During the search and rescue exercise, multiple agencies’ assets and crews launched including ten Coast Guard Station Kauai crewmembers and more than 40 high school students from Kapaa High School to simulate passengers in distress.

Assets and crews included a Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Kauai, a helicopter crew from Air Station Barber’s Point, a 154-foot Fast Response Cutter Joseph Gerczak (WPC 1126), a Rescue Company and Air 1 helicopter from the Kauai Fire Department, Jet-Ski operators from Ocean Safety, an ambulance crew on standby from AMR, and medical personnel from the Department of Health and Wilcox Medical Center and the University of Hawaii EMS training program.

Exercises like this are conducted to evaluate notification and response procedures between first responders and to identify shortfalls in communication and coordination of response during search and rescue (SAR) incidents. Each agency holds unique capabilities that complement each other’s efforts and bolsters the overall success of the SAR system.

For more information, contact the 14th District public affairs office at 808-535-3230 or the Kauai County public affairs office at 808-241-4909.

Cal Guard readies for 2019 fire season

SUTTER CREEK, CA, UNITED STATES
04.27.2019
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Julianne Showalter
California National Guard 

Eric Marriott, center, a helibase deck coordinator with Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, provides overwatch of the base in Sutter Creek, California, April 27, 2019. California Army and Air National Guard helicopter units train together alongside Cal Fire. The partnership enhances the California’s aerial wildland firefighting capabilities. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Julianne M. Showalter)



John Farrell, left, and Bob Simmon, right, both from Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, talk about a spot fire drop zone safety concerns during a California Interagency Military Helicopter Fire Fighting Training Program exercise in Ione, California, April 27, 2019. California Army and Air National Guard helicopter units train annually with Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The partnership enhances the California aerial wildland firefighting capabilities. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Julianne M. Showalter)

36th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief, conducts training with the Division of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting

PALAU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, PALAU
04.25.2019
Photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier
Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs 

Stanley C. Torres, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief, conducts training with the Division of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting and local police officers April 25, 2019, at the Palau International Airport, Republic of Palau. U.S. Air Force Airmen helped to familiarize first responders with procedures for fighter airframes. F-22 Raptors and support personnel based out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, traveled to the Republic of Palau for the first time as part of an aircraft dispersal exercise called Resilient Typhoon. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier)

Kirtland bids farewell to Fire Chief Stewart

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Kirtland Air Force Base Fire Chief Darryl Stewart bids farewell to his fellow firefighters, mission partners and members of the 377th Mission Support Group during a ceremony April 16, 2019 at Fire Station 2 here. Stewart was presented with the Award for Meritorious Civilian Service and given gifts by his department, security forces, LRS and EOD. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jessie Perkins)

Kirtland bids farewell to Fire Chief Stewart
KIRTLAND AFB, NM, UNITED STATES
04.17.2019
Story by James Fisher
377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs 

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --
Team Kirtland and the Kirtland Air Force Base Fire Department said goodbye to the Fire Chief April 16, 2019, as Darryl Stewart was showered with gifts and accolades in a ceremony at Fire Station 2 here.

Stewart, who arrived at his post at Kirtland in March 2013, is now headed to be the installation fire chief at Fort Gordon, Ga. His six-plus years at Kirtland were distinguished earning him an Award for Meritorious Civilian Service. Numerous awards for the department were capped off with KAFBFD being named Air Force Global Strike Command’s Large Base Fire Department of the Year for 2018.

The fire chief, a retired Air Force chief master sergeant, was also instrumental in the stand-up of a paramedic non-firefighter transportation mission on Kirtland and an-house fire academy, which graduated seven new members of the KAFBFD last year, according to Deputy Fire Chief Jaime Jimenez.

“I’ve known him for the 25 years we served together [including] in the Air Force. He’s a remarkable leader and one of the smartest people I’ve ever met,” Jimenez said. “The chief will surely be missed.”

Jimenez was joined by representatives from 377th Mission Support Group, Security Forces, EOD, the Logistics Readiness Squadron, who presented Stewart with gifts and gratitude.

“Losing somebody like this is significant,” said Gary Schneider, MSG’s Chief of Civil Engineering. “But we know you have brought people up through the ranks and they will ensure this department will continue to succeed.”

Stewart returned the sentiments, thanked his fellow firefighters, mission partners, and administration for helping to meet a “series of challenges.”

“We are here to serve our community and save lives and protect property and that’s what we do extremely well. And I’m very proud to have been a part of that,” Stewart said.

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES
04.25.2019
Photo by Pfc. Andrew Cortez
Marine Corps Installations West - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton 

Frank Ortiz, fire fighter with the Camp Pendleton Fire Department, adjusts the water pressure of a fire hose during a controlled fire simulation training exercise at the Camp Pendleton Fire and Emergency Services training center, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, April 25, 2019. The Camp Pendleton and Vista Fire Departments conducted the training to ensure the preparedness of their firefighters in the event of a fire breakout on Camp Pendleton or in the surrounding area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Andrew Cortez)

Montana Dye, firefighter with the city of Vista Fire Department, runs a fire hose to the simulated fire zone during a controlled fire simulation training exercise at the Camp Pendleton Fire and Emergency Services training center, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, April 25, 2019. The Camp Pendleton and Vista Fire Departments conducted the training to ensure the preparedness of their firefighters in the event of a fire break out on Camp Pendleton or in the surrounding area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Andrew Cortez)

Firefighters from the Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton and the city of Vista Fire Departments exit the fire zone after extinguishing a fire during a controlled fire simulation training exercise at the Camp Pendleton Fire and Emergency Services training center, MCB Camp Pendleton, California, April 25, 2019. The two departments conducted the training to ensure the preparedness of their firefighters in the event of a fire breakout on Camp Pendleton or in the surrounding area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Andrew Cortez)