Military personnel injured in car accident while assigned to Swan Lake Fire traffic control points

The Alaska Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, supports the McKinley Fire suppression mission Aug. 19, 2019, with two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The helicopters dropped more than 100,000 gallons of water during a total of 9.5 flight hours in support of this mission. (U.S. Army National Guard photo courtesy of 1st Lt. Cody McKinney)

ANCHORAGE, AK, UNITED STATES
08.25.2019
Story by Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead
Alaska National Guard Public Affairs 

Three Air National Guardsmen and one member of the Alaska State Defense Force assigned to Swan Lake Fire traffic control points were involved in a vehicle accident early Saturday morning on the Sterling Highway when their vehicle was struck by a drunk driver. All suffered minor injuries and the vehicle was totaled.

The personnel were back-filled with additional Air Guardsmen, in place by late Saturday afternoon.

The Alaska Army and Air National Guard have been assisting the Division of Forestry with McKinley and Swan Lake Fires since August 18.

The National Guard is providing traffic management support for both fires, and is on stand-by to assist with UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter water bucket drops as requested. They are also preparing to assist local authorities if Cooper Landing receives an evacuation order.

Traffic control points are essential to the safety of individuals passing through the area because they allow better flow of traffic and accountability of personnel in hazardous areas.

The Guardsmen and ASDF Soldiers are on duty 24/7, rotating shifts in order to maintain proper flow of traffic in the areas.

Two Black Hawk helicopters were deployed from Bryant Army Air Field August 19 in support of fire suppression at the McKinley Fire. They dropped over 100,000 gallons of water along fire lines and hotspots. They remained on call through the week and are prepared to support upon request as needed.

The Alaska National Guard has responded to the call from civil authorities to support wildfire response efforts since July 1. The Guard has assisted at eight different fires this summer, in an area that spans over 90-thousand square miles. In addition to the McKinley and Swan Lake Fires, Alaska Guardsmen responded to fires in East Anchorage, Montana Creek, Malaspina, Klutina, Rampart, and Rainbow 2.

There are nearly four thousand Airmen and Soldiers in the National Guard who live, work and train in communities throughout Alaska. They are equipped and ready to respond as needed for the nation and state. During domestic response operations, the Guard partners with state and federal agencies to assist with resources, personnel, equipment and capabilities as requested.

99 Firefighters, but a slacker ain’t one

Photo By Airman 1st Class Andrew Bertain | PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. –Fire protection Airmen from the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron train for aircraft fire scenarios Aug. 7, 2019, on Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The firefighters practiced on a mock aircraft structure that is surrounded by a pool of water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andrew Bertain)
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, CO, UNITED STATES

08.27.2019
Story by Airman 1st Class Andrew Bertain
21st Space Wing Public Affairs 

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- When a person thinks of firefighters, he or she might conjure images of burning buildings, big red trucks or cats stuck in trees, but the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron fire department knows there’s a lot more to a fire department than what meets the eye. The 99 firefighters on Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, train every day to be able to respond at a moment’s notice. They know how to handle every kind of scenario, from performing first aid to responding to a crashed aircraft.

“Once you reach staff sergeant, most of us have our airport and structural firefighting, emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician and hazmat technician certifications as well as wildland, ice water, swift water, high-angle and rope rescue certifications,” said Staff Sgt. Zachary Baldwin, 21st CES Fire Protection crew chief. “We kind of have to be jacks-of-all-trades.”

Not only do firefighters have a lot of situations to prepare for, but the 21st CES firefighters also have a lot of ground to cover.

“Every single firefighter assigned here and at [Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station] are staffed 24/7 and are prepared to respond to any emergency on or off base,” said Master Sgt. David Webster, 21st CES fire protection flight superintendent. “Besides [Peterson AFB], we also support Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and miles and miles of wildlands, and we are also the Colorado Springs Airport’s sole fire support.”

Despite these challenges, Peterson AFB was named the best fire protection in Air Force Space Command in 2017, and in 2018 Cheyenne Mountain AFS earned the title of the best small fire station in the U.S. Air Force.

Firefighters not only need to constantly improve their education and career, but it is also critical for them to maintain their physical fitness. These Airmen have to be able to act swiftly while wearing gear that weighs anywhere from 50 to 70 pounds, not to mention having to be able to carry people, climb ladders and operate heavy machinery.

“At the end of the day, no one wants to look a person’s family in the eye and say they weren’t physically fit enough to get them out,” said Baldwin.

Webster said that no matter what the emergency, he trusts his wingmen are up to the task.

“I am 100 percent confident in my firefighters,” said Webster. “If anyone calls on their worst day, every single firefighter here is going to answer that call of duty and take care of you and the emergency.”

To report a fire emergency call 911.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. –Fire protection Airmen from the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron train for an aircraft fire scenario Aug. 7, 2019, on Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The firefighters of Peterson not only get called for every in-flight emergency for military aircraft, but also for all commercial aircraft flying through the Colorado Springs Airport. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andrew Bertain)

USMC New off-road fire engine ideal for High Desert terrain

The shorter, smaller and narrower quick response fire engine in front of the larger Type-1 fire engine, is capable of accessing all areas of Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California, without having to use bypass routes to get around the narrow tunnel that leads to the Marine Memorial Golf Course.

MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, CA, UNITED STATES
08.22.2019
Story by Keith Hayes
Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow 

A truck retrofitted as a Type 6 firefighting apparatus, with standard fire pumping capabilities as well as ultra-high pressure pumping capabilities, helps firefighters reach the scene of emergencies in rugged terrain more quickly aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California, as well as in the surrounding community.

Paul Purdy, fire chief, Marine Corps Fire and Emergency Services aboard MCLB Barstow, said the new smaller Type-6 fire engine was originally a 2005 Ford F550 utility truck owned by the department.

“We had it refitted into a fire engine that is capable of getting through the tunnel between MCLB Barstow and the Marine Memorial Golf Course,” Purdy explained.

The access tunnel between the base and the golf course has always been too small to allow the larger Type-1 fire engines could get through.

“That means if there is an emergency or fire at the golf course we have to drive off the base to take the dirt access roads to bypass the tunnel in order to get to the scene,” said Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Tworek. He’s the man who spearheaded the drive to get the truck retrofitted.

The aggregated response time (ART) to an emergency is within seven minutes from receiving the call. Having to bypass the tunnel added 15 to 20 minutes more time to the response, but the new retrofit now allows fire crews to meet or exceed the under 7-minute standard, Tworek explained.

“The Type-6 apparatus can also be used at the weapons range aboard base which proves difficult for the Type-1 fire engines,” he added. Type-1 firetrucks have ladder and water cannon capabilities suited to fighting large structure fires, but they are more cumbersome in off-road situations.

The new Type 6 does not have all the capabilities of the larger fire engines, Chief Purdy said, but it is capable of delivering 300 gallons of water at high pressure to handle almost any small brush or structure fire.

“We can deliver ten gallons a minute with the ultra-high pressure hose with just as much effectiveness as a larger hose that puts out 100 gallons a minute under normal pressure,” Purdy said.

The refitting of the truck into the Type-6 fire engine cost just a little under $200,000 and was done by Fire Trucks Unlimited, a firm in Henderson, Nevada, which specializes in building Fire Rescue Vehicles, Fire Rescue Utility Vehicles, and Ultra High-Pressure Firefighting Systems. That compares to building a new fast response fire engine from the ground for $450,000 to $500,000.

The water pumping system on top of the truck is a U.S. Navy Twin Pump Skid UHP/HV-Diesel Engine Driven, which is state of the art for fire departments.

Colonel Craig C. Clemans, commanding officer, MCLB Barstow, attended an official unveiling of the new Type-6 apparatus at the headquarters of the Security and Emergency Services Department, August 20.

“This new fire engine is all about increasing the capability of the fire department by reducing our response time to emergencies and fires,” Clemans said.

“Taking existing equipment that is in good shape and repurposing it as we did with this truck at much less expense is a very good thing,” said Danny Strand, director, SES. “I am proud that our department now has off-roading capabilities to provide even better response time.”

“This is quick-attack apparatus that can get to the scene of off-road accidents, fires and medical emergencies where our much larger fire engines couldn’t,” Chief Purdy said.

“It will enable us to serve this whole side of the base where the golf course is located more efficiently and with much lower response time, meeting or exceeding the standard. In an emergency, time means lives,” he concluded.


The new, smaller, quick response fire engine fits neatly through the access tunnel leading from Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California, to the Marine Memorial Golf Course, August 9. Without the smaller Type-6 fire engine, emergency crews would have to travel miles and minutes out of their way to bypass the tunnel.

Onlookers get a close up look at the new quick-response fire engine unveiled in front of Security and Emergency Services headquarters building August 20. The new fire engine is constructed on the bed of a Ford F550 already owned by the fire department with the fire apparatus on the back added by Fire Trucks Unlimited in Henderson, Nevada.

(Left) Colonel Craig C. Clemans, commanding officer, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California, with Assistant Fire Chief Craig Posey directing, aims a spray of water from the ultra-high pressure hose attached to the new, quick response fire engine at the headquarters of Security and Emergency Services, August 20. Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Tworek, Marine Corps Fire Department, said the ultra-high pressure hose at 10 gallons a minute is as effective on a brush or structure fire as the larger hose spraying 100 gallons a minute.

The quick-response fire engine designed to access the more rugged areas of Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California, tackles some off-road challenges adjacent to the Marine Memorial Golf Course, August 9. The retrofitted Ford F550 truck, had much larger tires installed, and fire apparatus capable of getting through the access tunnel between MCLBB and the golf course.

Response Time Critical

KUWAIT
08.16.2019
Photo by Sgt. David Bickel
Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response - Central Command 

U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 participate in a joint service emergency response exercise with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting service members in Kuwait, Aug. 16, 2019. The Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis-Response Central-Command is a multiple force provider designed to employ ground, logistics and air capabilities throughout the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Bickel)


U.S. service members with an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting team evacuate a Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 MV-22 Osprey after an emergency response drill in Kuwait, Aug. 16, 2019. The Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis-Response Central-Command is a multiple force provider designed to employ ground, logistics and air capabilities throughout the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Bickel)


An MV-22 Osprey pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 prepares to be medically evacuated after an emergency response drill in Kuwait, Aug. 16, 2019. The Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command is a multiple force provider designed to employ ground, logistics and air capabilities throughout the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Bickel)


U.S. service members with an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting team treat crash casualties after an emergency response drill in Kuwait, Aug. 16, 2019. The Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command is a multiple force provider designed to employ ground, logistics and air capabilities throughout the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Bickel)


U.S. service members with an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting team treat crash casualties after an emergency response drill in Kuwait, Aug. 16, 2019. The Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis-Response Central-Command is a multiple force provider designed to employ ground, logistics and air capabilities throughout the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Bickel)

Wild Weasel firefighter puts out flames on first assignment.

A U.S. Air Force fire protection helmet sits on the ground in front of a fire truck at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 7, 2019. Airman 1st Class Adam Cardona, a Dallas, Texas, native, attended firefighter training for three months prior to receiving orders to his first base, Misawa AB, which resulted in him feeling anxious. However, he found solace through the welcoming embrace of local American and Japanese community members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Collette Brooks)

MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JAPAN
08.19.2019
Story by Senior Airman Collette Brooks
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs 

Post boot camp, Airmen begin technical school to become trained and well-versed in their respective career fields. After weeks of hands-on training and classroom direction, students prepare for graduation while looking forward to a crucial document which separates them from their next endeavor: permanent change of station orders.

While tech school focuses primarily on teaching students proper and efficient job performance, it’s the Airmen’s responsibility to master getting settled again.

Anticipation of future assignments can create a gut-twisting feeling, leaving Airmen anxious, restless and even uneasy, but Airman 1st Class Adam Cardona, a 35th Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection journeyman, combatted first assignment jitters with fun, exploration and self-discovery.

“When I received orders to Misawa Air Base, Japan, I initially felt discouraged because living far away from my family and starting a whole new life without them wasn’t ideal,” expressed Cardona. “When my fear subsided, my time here became something better than I could have ever expected.”

Cardona’s co-worker agreed changing bases can be difficult.

“It’s normal for an Airman to feel nervous when PCSing to their first base,” explained Staff Sgt. Brendon Sample, a 35th CES lead firefighter. “The adjustment period varies for everyone, but getting out of your comfort zone and exploring makes the transition much easier.”

Due to the inviting nature of local members, Cardona said he felt ready to break out of his shell and explore the area.

“Misawa City residents make you instantly feel a part of the community,” he added with a smile on his face. “They are kind, generous and always respectful. I feel a sense of freedom, security and belonging.”

Despite embracing his new home, Cardona still faced challenges associated with being stationed overseas.

“Being in the rural area can make it tough to find ‘city-like’ activities to do,” he explained. “But appreciating the great outdoors and all the things you can do, like hiking, swimming and snowboarding, makes Misawa City a great place to live.”

Although Misawa City lacks fancy bright lights, skyscrapers or the roar of the city filling the night sky, Cardona discovered a more personal and profound achievement.

“My mental strength grew a great deal since being stationed here,” he explained. “Residing in this region is no easy task because we have to maintain that ‘fight tonight’ mentality. The training exercises and workload is heavier than I expected, but I appreciate how my shop makes readiness a top priority.”

Cardona added he’s more equipped to respond during difficult situations because his leadership provided him the necessary guidance and structure.

“I advise my Airmen to create and maintain a strong mental, physical and spiritual foundation,” expressed Sample. “Since our career field is demanding and fast-paced, it’s important to learn and grow from every bad and good experience thrown your way.”

In addition to Airmen seeing all days, regardless of the circumstance, as a learning experience, Cardona believed it’s most important to set goals and have something to always look forward to.

“I look forward to attending the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” he expressed. “If it wasn’t for the close proximity from Misawa AB to the event, I know I wouldn’t have a chance at attending, so I am forever grateful for my orders here. I haven’t experienced this much adventure, fun and personal growth before.”

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Adam Cardona, a 35th Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection journeyman, pauses for a photo at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 7, 2019. The Dallas, Texas, native attended firefighter training for three months prior to receiving orders to his first base, Misawa AB, which resulted in him feeling anxious, but he found solace through the welcoming embrace of local American and Japanese community members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Collette Brooks)