Teams combine efforts to save lives

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Candy Knight
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) --  In an effort to build better relationships and save lives, the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s Fire Department and Manas International Airport Emergency Response team joined forces and trained June 6 to 7.
 
“We have a memorandum of agreement that allows either party to request assistance from the other during emergency responses, so it is critical that we can operate effectively as a team,” said Senior Master Sgt. Shepherd Pinney, base fire chief. He is deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. 

During the exercises, members from each department familiarized themselves with the equipment used to fight different types of fires. 

“We practiced different types of responses, such as rapid resupply of crash firefighting vehicles. Basically, it is where one truck feeds water to the trucks that are performing firefighting operations,” Sergeant Pinney said. 

According to Uriy Lapteu, MIA fire chief, this type of joint training gives the firefighters a better advantage and doubles their firefighting capability. 

“It is very good to have a mutual training and understanding. It benefits everyone,” he said. 

Talgatbek Omokeev, MIA search and rescue chief, agreed. 

“This is good knowledge and helps all be prepared in case of a fire or other type of emergency,” he said. 

The teams are planning future training exercises including aircraft firefighting, and aircrew and passenger egress from coalition and host nation aircraft. 

“Our firefighters are very proud to have the opportunity to train and perform with the local firefighters. The training sessions greatly increase our firefighting capabilities in case of a major accident and ultimately provide increased protection of the 376th AEW mission as we move people, fuel and cargo for Operation Enduring Freedom,” Sergeant Pinney said.