624th Regional Support Group Firefighters

 

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII., HI, UNITED STATES
12.05.2020
Photo by James Bowman 
624th Regional Support Group  

Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 624th Civil Engineer Squadron walk towards a fire truck during a joint live-fire exercise between the Hawaii State Fire Department and the 624th Regional Support Group Dec. 5, 2020 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Live-fire training maintains proficiency by safely fighting fires in a controlled setting under supervision. The 624 RSG Pacific Warriors provide throughput of cargo, passengers, patients and runway repair in the Pacific. (U.S. Air Force Photo by James Bowman)

Fire Station Renovations for Fort Drum Firefighters.

Fort Drum firefighters are receiving a belated gift this holiday season when interior renovations to Fire Station #1 and #3 are set for completion by the end of December. Improvements are being made to bathrooms, kitchens and living quarters, as well as the replacement of flooring, ceiling tiles and light fixtures. (Photo by Mike Strasser, Fort Drum Garrison Public Affairs)

FORT DRUM, NY, UNITED STATES

12.08.2020

Story by Michael Strasser 

Fort Drum Garrison Public Affairs  

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Dec. 8, 2020) -- Fort Drum firefighters are receiving a belated gift this holiday season, and it’s something they are all going to appreciate heading into the New Year.

Interior renovations to Fire Stations #1 and #3 have been ongoing since August with an expected completion date of Dec. 31.

The work on Fort Drum Fire Station #1, which was originally built in 1988, includes new bathroom, kitchen and living quarters for the firefighters. Additionally, flooring, ceiling tiles and light fixtures are being replaced.

“I have been here for 23 years, and I’ve never seen a renovation to this building like we presently have,” said Fort Drum Fire Chief Jason Brunet. “This was much-needed.”

Mike Thomas, Fort Drum Directorate of Emergency Services deputy director, said that Fire Station #1 is considered the workhorse of the department due to its location in the garrison footprint.

“They get the majority of the calls from our Soldiers and family members, and so maintaining the facility is very important to us,” he said. “This is part of our continuing efforts to improve our capabilities and our infrastructure.”

Brunet said that Fire Station #3 was undergoing similar renovations in addition to receiving a new boiler.

“Both fire stations have the same completion date, and they are expected to be finished on time,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier with how this has progressed, and that is due to how well we’ve been able to work with the Fort Drum Public Works team and the contractors.”

The firefighters said that the added comfort and conveniences make a world of difference to them.

“At a minimum, there are going to be four firefighters at Fire Station #1 at any given time, maybe six,” Brunet said. “We only had one shower for them. That’s something we were able to fix for them. Basically, this was about making life more functional.”

To that end, many of them contributed ideas to improve the conditions inside the fire stations. Brunet said their input ranged from the color of the kitchen cabinet tops and base moldings to the additions of a pull-out trash bin and spice rack.

“Everybody had gotten together to talk about the things they wanted to see, and it was really a joint effort between the officers and firefighters to make this our home,” said Firefighter Garrett Burback. “People say this is our second home, but honestly, I probably spend more time here than I do at my actual home.”

While the square footage hasn’t changed, Burback said that the renovation is making better use of the space.

“Instead of everything looking so small and compartmentalized, we wanted things to seem more open and spacious,” he said. “Everybody is really happy with how this is going to look when it’s finished. It has a homier environment than before.”

Burback has served with Fort Drum Fire for 17 years, and he said that there were never any complaints about the fire station – just wishful thinking.

“Everybody understands that money is not always there for something like this, so we were all kind of just waiting for this day,” he said. “We knew it would happen eventually, but there were no complaints. I’ve been to other fire departments, so I know that we’ve had it good here.”

At Fire Station #3, Firefighter Kenneth Stout said that the new kitchen layout was designed for efficiency and ease-of-use.

“Basically what we had before was just a shelf with everything crammed inside,” he said. “If you were looking for steak seasoning, you could spend minutes digging around for it. With the new layout, daily life is going to be a lot easier in here.”

Stout, a former 2nd Brigade Combat Team Soldier, has served with Fort Drum Fire for eight years.

“A lot of people would think this isn’t much, but when you’re here 48 hours at a time, even having a fresh coat of paint on the wall makes a difference,” he said.

As quality-of-life projects go, Brunet said that this one is much-deserved and much-needed for his department.

“When you look at the schedule for firefighters, these guys are living here two days straight before they even see their own homes,” he said. “So it’s important to us that we can make this – their home away from home – as comfortable as we can.”

At the end of the day, Brunet said that these renovations are also about departmental readiness.

“Our firefighters have to be ready to respond whenever that alarm goes off. Any improvements we can make that will positively affect their ability to perform – whether it’s an additional bathroom or a new stove – then that’s what we’re going to do.”

AUAB Firefighter for a Day program builds cohesion among base personnel

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jordan Martin | Fighting through a cramped space, Senior Airman Nyell Sanchez, a medical logistics technician in the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group, works blindfolded to traverse through a confined spaces obstacle course at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Nov. 13, 2020. Sanchez participated in the Firefighter for a Day program hosted by the Al Udeid AB fire department. The program puts participants through physical and mental challenges that mimic what firefighters are trained and expected to do in emergency situations. Not only does the experience allow volunteers to better understand and appreciate firefighters, but it helps build cohesion among members of Al Udeid AB allowing everyone to better complete the CENTCOM mission and posture to prevail tomorrow.

QATAR

12.03.2020

Story by Staff Sgt. Jordan Martin 

379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs  

The Firefighter for a Day program at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, goes beyond the average firehouse tour.

Participants not only get to explore the station, ride in the fire truck and even spray the hose, but what makes the program truly special is the earned-in-sweat accomplishment after enduring an exhausting set of challenges.

“Be prepared to sweat, be prepared to talk to yourself and be prepared to be pushed,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kristopher Boysel, a fire operations crew chief with the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. “We want to push you to your limits within safety reason. It’s not to work you down, but it’s to show you that you can push yourself through anything physically, you just have to put your mind to it.”

Participants face a series of physical challenges that mimic what firefighters experience in emergency situations. Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Robinson, fire chief of Al Udeid AB, assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, hopes that volunteers will discover and appreciate the great men and women who protect Al Udeid AB.

“Staff Sgt. Boysel is the architect behind what some have called an ‘unforgettable experience.’ The purpose of the Firefighter for a Day program is reciprocal,” said Robinson. “It allows participants a hands-on experience of what it takes to be a firefighter, provides firsthand knowledge about the equipment, technology and tactics used in Air Force fire protection, strengthens team building skills and reinforces trust and communication within the community in which we serve.”

The Al Udeid Fire Department provides professional emergency response, aggressive fire prevention and community education programs to preserve the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing’s ability to support combat operations.

“Our mission is to lessen the risk, both on the probability and the consequence axes, that the wing takes while accomplishing its mission,” said Robinson.

After a short tour of the fire station and its equipment, volunteers faced their first challenge—a firefighter fitness test.

“It’s a test that we have to take annually as firefighters,” said Boysel. “It’s in our gear and gives them kind of a real-life experience of what it’s like to be physically exhausted inside of fire gear.”

Participants move from station to station; all while being timed. Whether it’s dragging a heavy mannequin to safety or pulling a fire hose across the parking lot, each task compounds on the one before it. Senior Airman Nyell Sanchez, assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group as a medical logistics technician, said the experience was one he wouldn’t forget.

“They put me in a lot of tough situations,” said Sanchez. “The suit was a lot hotter than I thought it would be and I definitely had to push myself in the end once I got to the dummy drag. It makes me respect their career field a lot more.”

Following completion of the firefighter fitness test, they switch to “disoriented firefighting”. Volunteers are first blindfolded and then sent through a confined-spaces obstacle course. They must crawl through cramped obstacles and they must do it as a team. Clear communication and focus get the teams through each obstacle.

According to Sanchez, navigating through the confined spaces was the most challenging part of the day for him.

“I had to control myself that way I could really think and get through what I needed to get through,” said Sanchez.

Whether Airmen work in an office, or turn wrenches on the flight line, it is rare that they experience another career field beyond their own. However, everyone on Al Udeid AB benefits from the hard work and expertise of the fire department. Through programs like Firefighter for a Day, the fire department enhances cohesion between themselves and the base personnel they serve, allowing everyone to better complete the mission and posture to prevail tomorrow.

“The participants are really only getting a small example of what we do,” said Boysel. “Which means that if we can show you how hard it is in 2-3 hours, it puts a big picture on what it’s like to do if 24/7.”

733d CED, Newport News Firefighters conduct joint exercise

Firetrucks from both the Newport News and Fort Eustis fire departments extend their ladders during a joint training exercise at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia Oct. 26, 2020. Firefighters from the 733d Civil Engineer Division conducted a ladder truck exercise with their counterparts from Newport News with the objective of enhancing their ability to work with other fire departments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Magbanua)

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, VA, UNITED STATES

12.01.2020

Story by Staff Sgt. Joshua Joseph Magbanua 

Joint Base Langley-Eustis  

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. , Nov. 3, 2020 —Firefighters from the 733d Civil Engineer Division conducted a ladder truck exercise with their counterparts from the Newport News Fire Department at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Oct. 26, 2020.

The objective of the training was to enhance the firefighters’ skill in using their ladder trucks. Participants in the exercise also aimed to bolster teamwork between the Fort Eustis and Newport News fire departments.

“It’s good to know that everybody’s on the same page when we’re working together for any type of fire or incident,” said Tim Scott, 733d CED lead firefighter. “It goes a lot smoother [when we work together]. Everybody did great on both sides and it’s wonderful to work with them any time we can.”

The exercise took place at a vacant three-story building, with firefighters from both departments stationing their trucks at different locations around the building. Their task was to access the third floor using the built-in ladders on their trucks.

While extending the ladders, the firefighters also had to maneuver around tree branches, power lines and other obstacles.

“When we’re setting up next to buildings or other locations, we have obstacles which get in our way,” Scott said. “It’s easier to train like you work so when the real thing happens you’re all ready for it.”

Matt Bacon, NNFD master firefighter, explained the training was designed to prepare firefighters for the unpredictable nature of their profession.

“We don’t have the luxury of knowing where our 911 calls are going to be,” Bacon said. “To come to somewhere and not be able to pre-plan that action, it gives us a very realistic opportunity in a controlled environment that’s safe for everyone.”

Bacon expressed his optimism at the opportunity for his department to train with their counterparts at Fort Eustis, adding that joint exercises bolster camaraderie between members of the firefighting community.

“We actually had a long-standing operational history [with the Fort Eustis fire Department],” Bacon said. “It is only natural that we would work together. It’s all about the closest truck to solve an emergency. We don’t see lines or borders, we go to help no matter where it is.”

‘Heroes through Housing’ builds community morale.

Photo By Airman 1st Class Taylor Slater | Kaiserslautern Military Community first responders prepare for the Heroes through Housing event near the Northside Chapel at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 7, 2020. Members of the 86th, 569th and 435th Security Forces Squadrons, 86th Medical Group, 435th Civil Engineer Group, NATO Military Police and Army NATO International Military police were applauded for their work throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Taylor D. Slater) 

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, RP, GERMANY

05.08.2020

Story by Airman 1st Class Taylor Slater 

86th Airlift Wing/Public Affairs  

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – Sirens blare and children clap as Kaiserslautern Military Community first responders drove through Ramstein’s family housing area during the Heroes through Housing event May 7, 2020.

Members of the 86th, 569th and 435th Security Forces Squadrons, 86th Medical Group, 435th Civil Engineer Group, NATO Military Police and Army NATO International Military Police were applauded for their work throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Community members adhered to physical distancing standards while celebrating the first responders’ works.

“It was amazing to see people excited and the young children waving,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Torres, 86th SFS police services assistant. “(Children) were happy to be there, calling their brothers and sisters over to run down the street and get a view.”

While first responders usually make contact with the public in a time of crisis, events such as these help build support and ease COVID-19 tension, Montgomery said.

“The whole purpose was to show the public the first responder community is in this together with them,” Montgomery said. “We’re still (physically) distancing, but we’re also still here to keep the peace and protect the public during COVID-19.”

Organizers hoped to boost the morale of the community and give back for their support.

“We can’t have a huge fair handing out hot dogs and hamburgers, but it’s just something to show the community, ‘Hey, we’re still thinking about you,’” Montgomery said.

While events are important for community morale, Lt. Col. Jeremy Sheppard, 86 SFS commander, noted it’s also important to remember that things aren’t back to normal yet.

“Our big concern was obviously making so much of a draw in housing that we would inadvertently have a mass gathering,” Sheppard said. “We were happy to see that families took the precautions to keep themselves and their family members safe.”

The event has been in production for two weeks. Sheppard saw celebrations for first responders in the United States and considered whether something similar would be successful on Ramstein. Frequent communication between first responder agencies was key to getting the event organized quickly.

A U.S. Airman assigned to the 86th Civil Engineer Squadron waves at residents in the on-base housing area at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 7, 2020. First responders play a key role in keeping the Kaiserslautern Military Community safe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Taylor D. Slater)