When young Kingsley Field firefighter, Capt. Larry Brown, passed away in 2003, Kingsley Field fire crews created a memorial in his honor consisting of a plaque and a tree planted in his honor. Upon the completion of a new firehouse at the base, the memorial was relocated to the new facility as well as the ashes of the late owner of Anthem Construction who constructed the new facility, were added to the site, per his wishes.

KLAMATH FALLS, OR, UNITED STATES
05.09.2019
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jefferson Thompson
173rd Fighter Wing/Public Affairs 

Last fall construction crews broke ground on a new firehouse for Kingsley Field firefighting operations, and it was completed in early May 2019. The facility boasts nearly twice the square-footage of the old facility, upgraded exhaust evacuation, water handling capabilities, and many other upgrades which help ensure safe operation of the department as well as expanding capability for an expanded flying mission at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jefferson Thompson)


A memorial for fallen Kingsley Field firefighter, Capt. Larry Brown, was relocated to the new building in honor of his service to the base at Kingsley Field, in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Crews moved both the plaque and a tree from the north part of the base to the new location, several hundred yards away in the winter of 2018-2019 where it will remain for the foreseeable future. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jefferson Thompson)

Kingsley Field firefighter Vince Lombardo fills shelves with extra personal protective gear in a new firehouse facility shortly after its completion in spring of 2019. The firehouse project serves to expand their facility by nearly twice its current square-footage, relieving overcrowding in the old station and upgrading the Kingsley Field facility located on the base in Klamath Falls, Oregon in numerous ways. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jefferson Thompson)

Kingsley Field firefighters work to move equipment and office furniture into their new facility following its completion, May 5, 2019. The firehouse project serves to expand their facility by nearly twice its current square-footage, relieving overcrowding in the old station and upgrading the Kingsley Field facility located on the base in Klamath Falls, Oregon in numerous ways. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jefferson Thompson)

Kingsley Field firefighter Jordan Kischel carries personal protective gear into the new firehouse while readying the station for operation following its completion just days prior, May 5, 2019. The firehouse project serves to expand their facility by nearly twice its current square-footage, relieving overcrowding in the old station and upgrading the Kingsley Field facility located on the base in Klamath Falls, Oregon in numerous ways. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jefferson Thompson)

When young Kingsley Field firefighter, Capt. Larry Brown, passed away in 2003, Kingsley Field fire crews created a memorial in his honor consisting of a plaque and a tree planted in his honor. Upon the completion of a new firehouse at the base, the memorial was relocated to the new facility as well as the ashes of the late owner of Anthem Construction who constructed the new facility, were added to the site, per his wishes. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jefferson Thompson)

Task Force 76 serves as a special response unit that is operated and activated by the 76th ORC in the event of an attack hitting the nation.

Vibrant Response to catastrophic attack, exercise tests 76th Operational Response Command capabilities

Soldiers with the Iowa National Guard perform decontamination of casualties during Vibrant Response 19 exercise at Mascatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, May 14, 2019. The annual exercise validates the Army's response to a catastrophic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive attack on American soil. (U.S. Army photo by Daniel J. Alkana/22 Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, UNITED STATES
05.15.2019
Story by Pvt. Carlos Cuebas Fantauzzi
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   


CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind., – The 76th Operational Response Command (ORC) out of Salt Lake City activated as Task Force 76 for exercise Vibrant Response 19 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, May 7, 2019.

The exercise simulates a catastrophic attack on American soil and runs from May 7 to May 16.

Brig. Gen. Doug Cherry, commanding general of the 76th ORC, oversaw the event and described it as unique in the Army mission.

“This mission is unlike anything else we do in the Army,” Cherry said. “When our units come on the mission to be part of the nation’s chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives defense response element – they are training to respond to America’s worst day.”

Task Force 76 serves as a special response unit that is operated and activated by the 76th ORC in the event of an attack hitting the nation.

Exercise Vibrant Response is used as an evaluation tool for higher headquarters to assess the capabilities of the U.S. Army in a real-world CBRNE response mission.

“Our headquarters will come in and look over our shoulders while we conduct this exercise,” Cherry said. “It’s a great opportunity for our Soldiers to show we know what we are doing.”

The event included approximately 16 units with 1,200 Soldiers, bringing capabilities ranging from aviation and medical to religious support services.

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) David H. Jones, Task Force 76 deputy command chaplain, was one of the senior officers in this exercise and said he found the training in Vibrant Response to be of great significance.

“It was very valuable for us to exercise what we would actually do in a scenario…,” he said. “The training puts into perspective real-world scenarios, that if we ever got attacked like this on our soil, our Soldiers will be ready and have processes in place to go in and support America.”

At Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, about an hour from 76th’s base camp, the task force’s Soldiers partnered with units from across the country to contain a notional nuclear fallout.

Fire spewed from buildings, a derailed train dangled over a collapsed bridge, overturned cars rerouted Army rescue vehicles, and debris littered the landscape at the training centered designed to simulate a catastrophic strike.

Through the chaos, Task Force 76 Soldiers donned protective chemical gear to spray down and ‘decontaminate’ victims of the notional blast. Search and rescue teams looked for survivors, and Army medical personnel helped treat casualties.

Meanwhile, back at the task force headquarters, the 76th’s command and staff battle-tracked what was happening at the training center. They simulated pushing out supplies to restock their troops on the ground and assist victims. They called in search-and-rescue aviation assets and flexed various subordinate task forces to Muscatatuck to help the people and their troops in the fallout zone.

“The task force did a great job,” Cherry said. “They knocked it out of the park, and I’m confident they will do their job if this event was to happen.”

This is the sixth time the 76th has participated in Vibrant Response. The unit continues to train throughout the year across the nation in order to be prepared for "America's worst day."

Fort Benning, local governments, emergency responders join in mutual aid agreement

Photo By Markeith Horace | FORT BENNING, Ga. – Harris County, Alabama, Sheriff Mike Jolley, left, and Columbus, Georgia, Mayor B. H. “Skip” Henderson sign a mutual aid agreement with Fort Benning, Georgia, and other area communities. If Fort Benning ever faces an emergency where it might need extra help from local governments and emergency responders, it’ll be able to ask that help from numerous area communities – and in turn, give it if called upon – under a mutual aid agreement signed here May 14. (U.S. Army photo by Markeith Horace, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Public Affairs Office) 

FORT BENNING, GA, UNITED STATES
05.15.2019
Story by Franklin Fisher
Fort Benning Public Affairs Office 

FORT BENNING, Ga. – If Fort Benning ever faces an emergency where it might need extra help from local governments and emergency responders, it’ll be able to ask that help from numerous area communities – and in turn, give it if called upon – under a mutual aid agreement signed here May 14.

Fort Benning and local communities have provided one another mutual aid in the past, but the memorandum spells out a specific set of procedures and other details that together will make mutual aid faster, smoother, and more efficient, participants said.

“Formalizing this in writing sets expectations on both sides,” said Col. Clinton W. Cox, who, as Commander of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Benning, oversees daily operations of the post.

“It sets expectations for us at Benning and it sets expectations for our community partners outside,” Cox said. “So that there’s a clear lane to accelerate decision cycles. It gives you a menu for what resources we have, what resources they have so that in times of crisis, where we’re overwhelmed with our own emergency services, we know exactly who to go to and ask.”

The pact, known officially as an All Hazard-All Emergency Mutual Aid Assistance Memorandum of Agreement, was signed at the post’s Benning Club, after which the signers were served lunch there.

Under the pact, the various communities and agencies agree to come to one another’s aid when warranted, provided they have the people, equipment and other needed resources available.

It applies to emergencies or disasters where the need may arise to save lives, prevent human suffering, mitigate excessive property damage, or a combination of those needs. It also provides for giving help in preparing beforehand for situations that are seen as potential emergencies.

“So let’s say we had a big structure fire or something like that,” Cox said. “We have enough resources to handle that. But if we had another structure fire that occurred at the same time, we get kind of lean on our ability to do that.

“So, in that case,” Cox said, “what the mutual aid agreement gives us is the ability to take care of is, if we reach that juncture and we went through our assessment and said, ‘Look, we really need some help,’ this gives us the opportunity to reach out to any one of the partners and ask them for additional support.

“If they’re available and they’ve got nothing going on, they don’t think it puts their community at risk, they’re going to come quickly to help us,” he said.

Columbus, Georgia Mayor B.H. “Skip” Henderson welcomed the agreement, saying it would benefit communities around the region. “Columbus really embraces regionalism,” he said. “We gotta be able to leverage one another’s strengths. It’s just critical that we all depend on one another when we need each other. You never know when you’re going to need help.

All stand to benefit under the agreement, Henderson said.

“I think the benefits are actually on both ends of the equation,” he said. “It allows us to be available to some counties that may need more resources than what they have available.”

Having Fort Benning as a partner was fortunate, local officials said, because of the post’s highly-skilled personnel and its broad array of other assets.

Fort Benning’s Soldiers are “world class,” said Henderson, and its independent contractors are also highly skilled, as are its firefighters, police and emergency medical personnel. “They’re trained impeccably and it’s just a comforting feeling to know that we can rely on them,” Henderson said.

Harris County Sheriff Mike Jolley also welcomed the pact and said Fort Benning’s assets could be a major help.

“Naturally, the federal government – the Army, has a lot more resources than my county has,” said Jolley. An example of how Fort Benning could help his department, he said, would be a situation in which Fort Benning might be able to provide a helicopter and night vision equipment to help in a nighttime search.

“Helicopters with night vision – that’s an asset,” Jolley said. “If we have an elderly lost in the woods or a child out on Pine Mountain walk path that’s lost overnight, that could possibly freeze if we can’t find him right away, and we don’t have the full assets to find that person, then we can put in that call, and they have the stepping stones in place to do it and respond back and come right out and help on a life-threatening situation.”

Those covered by the agreement are: U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Fort Benning, U.S. Army Medical Command, Fort Benning; the city governments of Columbus, Georgia, and Auburn, Opelika, and Phenix City, Alabama; and county governments, including, in Georgia, Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Talbot, Taylor, and Troup, and, in Alabama, Lee, Marion and Russell counties; county sheriff offices, including, in Georgia, Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Talbot, Taylor, and Troup counties, and, in Alabama, Lee, and Russell counties; and the East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, Alabama, the Columbus, the Columbus, Georgia Department of Public Health, and the Columbus Airport.

NY Air National Guard fire fighters meet South African counterparts in State Partnership Program exchange

Photo By Lt. Col. Al Phillips | New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Brian Cavanaugh, an Air Force firefighter assigned to the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing conducts fire line training with South African firefighters at the Table Mountain Newlands Fire Base in Cape Town, South Africa on May 2, 2019. Four Airmen spent April 29 to May 5 in Cape Town, South Africa as part of an exchange under the State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Alvin Phillips) 

CAPE TOWN , SOUTH AFRICA

05.14.2019

Story by Maj. Al Phillips 

New York National Guard  

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Four senior New York Air National Guard firefighters spent April 29 to May 5 in Cape Town to learn from, and share their experiences with, firefighters in South Africa’s Western Cape Province.

The four members of the 106th Rescue Wing-- Master Sgt. Brian Cavanagh, Master Sgt. Fredric Pravato, Staff Sgt. Robert Despres Jr., and Staff Sgt. Joshua Lebenns—are based at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base at Westhampton Beach on Long Island.

The four have 90 years of firefighting experience among them. Three are currently civilian fire fighters while serving with the Air National Guard and Cavanaugh, a full-time Airman, is a retired member of the New York City Fire Department. 

The Americans were there as part of the State Partnership Program relationship between the New York National Guard and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) organized by the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation. 

The office is engaged in a wide range of partnerships across many areas. The visit was designed to allow an exchange of best practices between Americans and a number of South African entities involved in efforts to fight fires in the Western Cape.

The New York Airmen visited the Table Mountain National Park Fire Management Department, attended a fire symposium at Stellenbosch University, visited several Fire Outpost Stations, and got the chance to train with South African firefighters.

The visit was requested by wildland fire specialists in the Western Cape.

"The United States was pleased to have the 106th Rescue Wing team in Cape Town to share best practices and experience with the South African military and provincial firefighting units,” said Virginia Blaser, U.S Consul General in Cape Town.

“The fact that we have opposite fire seasons provides an ideal opportunity for our two countries to support each other during challenging wildfire conditions, as happened last year when a South African team in the U.S. for training provided support for the Rattlesnake Fire on Native American tribal land in the U.S. Northern Rockies region,” she said.

“This current exchange represents the beginning of what we hope to be ongoing cooperation with U.S. armed service firefighters and South African military, provincial or regional, and municipal firefighters,” Blaser added.

Blaser visited the Table Mountain Newlands Fire Base with the 106th Airmen, where they observed water bucket helo-drops in mountainous terrain as a capability demonstration.

The Stellenbosch University visit focused on the fire ecology of South Africa and responding to and controlling fires in the region. A plant called Fynbos thrives in the region and provides fuel for brush fires.

Fynbos is a critical factor in trying to control fires in Cape Town, which has a population of over four million and a vast coastline, Cape Town Fire Chief Ian Schnetler told the Americans.

Cape Town is the size of the country of Luxembourg and there is always a demand for more personnel and resources to fight fires, Schnetler said. There are currently 30 stations across the city responding to calls daily 360 days a year.

According to the Western Cape Office of Disaster Management, in 2015 wildfires in the region from February to April resulted in several deaths and injuries, the burning of 17, 000 acres and damage to 13 properties.

In February, a fire in the Somerset West suburb of Cape Town involved six fire engines, three water tenders, 50 firefighters and two helicopters. 

“By observing recent damage areas and examining the 2015 fire, the firefighters can improve firefighting skills and expertise and further enhance the exposure they have gained from the U.S. incident command system,” explained Philip Prins, the Table Mountain Fire Manager. 

Previously, the U.S Forestry Service hosted Prins and a group of his firefighters to observe the incident command system in Montana. They also wound up helping to fight a fire there in 2018.

They were the first Africans to fight fires in the U.S.

The New York Air Guardsmen were asked to help develop a training plan that the South Africans could use in teaching firefighters how to “fast rope” from a hovering helicopter, and for the deployment of fire equipment, supplies, and safety mechanisms to put in place during a response.

“This is a job we can accomplish and succeed at very well,” Cavanaugh said. 

“This is exactly why we are here, here to assist and bridge the gap of our rescue capabilities and experiences,” Despres said. 

The 106th Rescue Wing deploys pararescue Airmen from HH-60 Pave Hawk search and rescue helicopters and fast-roping- a technique involving sliding down a rope from a hovering helicopter—is one of the ways they train to deploy.

New York Air Guard firefighters are due to return to South Africa in November of 2019. That’s summer in South Africa and the start of the firefighting season.

Meeting the New York Air Guardsmen was “inspiring and revitalizing as a fire manager,” said Riaan Fourie, Deputy Fire Manager, Table Mountain Newlands Fire Base. 

“I know it will bring about the necessary training, knowledge and relationships we desperately need to advance wildfire management,” he said. 

The Americans said they were happy to come back in the fall and get hands-on with their South African counterpart.

“We eagerly look forward to being on the fire line with our brothers and sisters,” Pravato said.

New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Fredric Pravato, an Air Force firefighter assigned to the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing conducts fire line training with South African firefighters at the Table Mountain Newlands Fire Base in Cape Town, South Africa on May 2, 2019. Four Airmen spent April 29 to May 5 in Cape Town, South Africa as part of an exchange under the State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Alvin Phillips)

Firefighters assigned to the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing conduct fire line training with South African firefighters at the Table Mountain Newlands Fire Base in Cape Town, South Africa on May 2, 2019. Four Airmen spent April 29 to May 5 in Cape Town, South Africa as part of an exchange under the State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Alvin Phillips)

Firefighters assigned to the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing conduct fire line training with South African firefighters at the Table Mountain Newlands Fire Base in Cape Town, South Africa on May 2, 2019. Four Airmen spent April 29 to May 5 in Cape Town, South Africa as part of an exchange under the State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Alvin Phillips)

“We have found our greatest success early on in the season with controlled-burns on bigger brush. It works really well when things start to get more intense,”

Firefighters with the Camp Pendleton Fire Department combat a fire in the Santa Margarita/De Luz Housing area on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 6, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Dylan Chagnon)

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES
05.09.2019
Story by Sgt. Gabino Perez
Marine Corps Installations West - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton 

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, California – Preserving and maintaining Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton’s more than 125,000 acres of land is a year-round effort for the Marines and firefighters of the installation. Annual exercises and training programs take place at MCB Camp Pendleton in preparation for the 2019 fire season.

The higher-than-average levels of rainfall in Southern California resulted in increased vegetation growth across the base. When the vegetation dries it becomes highly flammable, raising the threat of wildfire. Firefighters aboard MCB Camp Pendleton take extra measures to ensure they are ready for the 2019 fire season.

“We have found our greatest success early on in the season with controlled-burns on bigger brush. It works really well when things start to get more intense,” said Captain Ryan Rushing, station captain, Station 10, Camp Pendleton Fire Department, “We’re setting a consumable fire so that when the main body of fire hits it, there’s no more fuel because we already burned it.”

The controlled-burn method is an effective way to safely clear out overgrown grasslands, eliminating fuels from training areas to reduce the risk of a wildfire, and preventing large-scale wildfires in the future.

Firefighters practice many different extinguishing techniques such as progressive hose lays, mobile pumping and controlled-burns to ensure that they are adequately prepared for any fire they face.

The annual requirement for firefighters is a course called RT-130, also known as the Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher. It focuses personnel on operations and decision-making issues related to fire lines and all-hazard incident safety in order to recognize and mitigate risk, maintain safe and effective practices and reduce accidents.

“We use the Geographical Area Coordination Center, or GAAC, website in combination with our yearly RT-130 training to stay up to date on potential threats in our area,” said Rushing.

Every year MCB Camp Pendleton hosts dozer school for firefighters and equipment operators to get hands-on training with equipment. This serves a dual purpose because the operators practice cutting fire breaks for the upcoming fire season and take another step toward the safety of the installation.

“This year, we have people from as far up as Alameda County, near San Francisco, coming for dozer school and I think that’s great for them as well as us,” said Rushing.

This year’s increased participation in cutting out fire breaks on the base helps with potential large-scale wildfires.

Whether it is disposing of charcoal properly or putting cigarette butts in their designated areas, everyone on MCB Camp Pendleton can do their part to ensure that the Camp Pendleton Fire Department can focus on our safety in a bigger scale.

For more on Wildland Fire Information and Prevention please visit, https://pendleton.marines.mil/Wildland-Fire-Information-Prevention/