Blood, Sweat, and Stairs

GOODFELLOW AFB, TX, UNITED STATES
10.05.2019
Video by Airman 1st Class Matthew Angulo
17th Training Wing Public Affairs 

Members of the 312th Training Squadron participated in the annual "Blood, Sweat, and Stairs" event that commemorated firefighters who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Commanders, 1st Sgt. Compete in firefighter challenge

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, OK, UNITED STATES
09.25.2019
Photo by Senior Airman Cody Dowell
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs 

Participants of the Squadron Commander and First Sergeant Challenge pose together after the completion of the event, Sept. 26, 2019, at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The winner of the 2019 challenge was the team from the 97th Communications Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cody Dowell)


Members of the 97th Air Mobility Wing change in and out of firefighting gear, Sept. 26, 2019, at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The extra difficulty of performing the Squadron Commander and First Sergeant Challenge while in full firefighting gear allowed members to experience first-hand what members of the Altus AFB fire department are tasked with. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cody Dowell)


The team for the 54th Aerial Refueling Squadron and 58th Airlift Squadron drag a mannequin during the Squadron Commander and First Sergeant Challenge, Sept. 26, 2019, at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. This event simulated the physical challenges firefighters go through while in their full gear. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cody Dowell)


A member of the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron team pulls up a firehouse from a rope during the Squadron Commander and First Sergeant Challenge, Sept. 26, 2019, at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. Events like this required strength and skill as unsafe performances during the competition resulted in a time penalty. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cody Dowell)


The team from the 97th Healthcare Operations Squadron go up a flight of stairs during the Squadron Commander and First Sergeant Challenge, Sept. 26, 2019, at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. Events during the challenge were timed and required skill and accuracy to mimic daily actions of firefighters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cody Dowell)

Sparky Helps Promote Fire Prevention to Military Children

Children from the Child Development Center and Sparky, the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron firedog, stand in front of the 97th CES fire truck for a photo during Fire Prevention Week, Sept. 24, 2019, at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. During this visit, the children were greeted by Sparky, the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department firedog, followed by a tour of the fire truck. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

ALTUS AFB, OK, UNITED STATES
09.26.2019
Story by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs 

This week is Fire Prevention Week and the Altus Air Force Base fire department is turning up the heat by spreading awareness to military members and their families. On Sept. 24, 2019, the Altus AFB fire department took a special trip to the Child Development Center and offered children the opportunity to meet first responders while learning about the importance of fire safety. The children were greeted by Sparky, the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department firedog, followed by a tour of the fire truck. Fire prevention week is held annually to promote fire safety through interactive activities and demonstrations. The 2019 theme is “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape – Plan and Practice Your Escape!” which recognizes the everyday people who motivate their households to develop and practice a fire escape plan. These seemingly basic behaviors can have lifesaving impacts on families everywhere. Throughout the week the 97th CES will continue to demonstrate and promote the importance of fire safety.


Sparky, the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron firedog, high fives a child from Child Development Center, Sept. 24, 2019, at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The Altus AFB fire department visited the children from the CDC and will continue to demonstrate and promote the importance of fire safety throughout the week. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

Offutt Fire Department, Fire Prevention Week stirs up heroes

Photo By Charles Haymond | Corey Harrison, 55th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, inspects water and foam fire extinguishers Sept. 19, 2019, inside the main fire station at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. The Offutt Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association for this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign held Oct. 6-12, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Charles J. Haymond)

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NE, UNITED STATES
09.26.2019
Story by Charles Haymond
55th Wing Public Affairs 

In an effort to encourage Offutt community awareness of fire prevention, the Offutt Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association for this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign held Oct. 6-12, 2019.

Fire Prevention Week originated as a result of a massive Chicago fire that occurred on Oct. 8, 1871. This horrific tragedy claimed the lives of more than 250 people. It also left 100, 000 people homeless, ruined 174,000 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.

This prompted public officials and firefighters to disseminate information about the importance of fire safety to the public on the anniversary of this massacre. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson declared a proclamation that observes the Sunday prior to October 9 through the following Saturday as Fire Prevention Week.

“From 2012-2016 U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 8,200 home structure fires that were started by candles per year,” said David Eblin, 55th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief. “These fires caused an annual average of 80 deaths, 770 injuries and 264 million in direct property damage.”

This year’s theme is “Not every hero wears a cape. Plan and practice your escape!”

Eblin emphasized that it is imperative for families to develop escape plans in case of house fires.

“The time to discuss fires in the home is before they happen,” Eblin said. Once a fire breaks out it is not uncommon for people to panic, escape is all about preplanning and frank discussion prior to the fire event.”

Many events are planned for this year’s Fire Prevention Week. Offutt Exchange will have static displays with brochures and demonstrations Oct. 7-11. There will also be tours at local elementary schools, fire drills the child, and youth development centers. The Fire department will host an Open House at the main fire house Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The NFPA website provides the following advice to help protect your family in the event of a house fire:

• Draw a map of your home. Show all doors and windows.
• Visit each room. Find two ways out.
• All windows and doors should open easily. You should be able to use them to get outside.
• Make sure your home has smoke alarms. Push the test button to make sure each alarm is working.
• Pick a meeting place outside. It should be in front of your home. Everyone will meet at the meeting place.
• Make sure your house or building number can be seen from the street.
• Talk about your plan with everyone in your home.
• Learn the emergency phone number for your fire department.
• Practice your home fire drill!
• Make your own home fire escape plan

Eblin added that fire prevention is something that should be practiced year round.

“Do a monthly inspection of your home, and keep a critical eye open for any hazards, such as combustibles too close to heat producing appliances/devices,” Eblin said. “Check and test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.”

Colonel Fredrick Lewis signs Fire Prevention Proclamation

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Fredrick Lewis, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni commanding officer, and John Neville, installation fire chief, sign the fire prevention proclamation on MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, September 27, 2019. Fire Prevention Week's purpose is to prepare MCAS Iwakuni residents for potential fires. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Trista Whited)

IWAKUNI, JAPAN
09.27.2019
Story by Lance Cpl. Trista Whited
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni 

U.S Marine Corps Col. Fredrick Lewis, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, and John Neville, installation fire chief, announced the week of October 6-12 to be fire prevention week at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, September 27, 2019. Lewis and Neville inducted fire prevention week by signing a fire prevention proclamation together for the first time.
With the proclamation, Fire Prevention Week is set to take place October 6-12. With fires killing more than 2,630 people in the United States in 2018, according to the National Fire Protection Association and the always-present danger of fires anywhere in the world, Lewis and Neville introduced this prevention week to bring about awareness for residents of MCAS Iwakuni.
Fire prevention and safety is important because of the potential for great amounts of damage to an affected person’s life and possessions caused by a fire. Lewis urges everyone to practice fire safety by the following advice: have an evacuation plan or two, know how to call 9-1-1 in case of an emergency and practice a fire escape plan at least once a month.
Fire Prevention Week consists of several events, including; information booths, live fire, extrication and rescue demonstrations, station tours and parent safety tips by the Red Cross. Each of these events will further inform MCAS Iwakuni residents of fire, fire hazards and fire prevention.
The theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week is, “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape.” It serves to remind us that we need to be aware of smoke alarms, the sounds they make, and to have two ways to evacuate all rooms safely.
The fire prevention week will kick off with information booths in Crossroads and the Commissary, October 6-11 from 1100-1230. Then, on Saturday, October 12 activities and demonstrations will begin at Building 6119 from 1030-1500.


U.S. Marine Corps Col. Fredrick Lewis, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni commanding officer, and John Neville, installation fire chief, sign the fire prevention proclamation on MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, September 27, 2019. Fire Prevention Week's purpose is to prepare MCAS Iwakuni residents for potential fires. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Trista Whited)