Firefighters do more than name implies

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt Pamela Anderson
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  The 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron Fire Prevention Flight does more than fight fires.

"In addition to fire and medical calls we respond to hazardous materials, confined space and high angle rescue calls," said Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Raymond, 332nd ECES fire chief. The flight also responds to in-flight emergencies and on-and-off base accidents.

The squadron has one of only two rescue air mobility squad, or RAMS, teams in the Iraqi area of responsibility. The RAMS team is comprised of certified members of the fire protection flight who receive additional combat skills training from the Army.

"The RAMS team has this unique mission because firefighters have the tools, training and experience to pull vehicles apart while protecting the occupants, extricate victims and provide emergency medical care prior to their being transported to a medical facility," Chief Raymond said.

The RAMS team has 14 members who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They respond to an incident either by medical evacuation helicopters or convoys, taking along 350 pounds of extrication tools.

Since December, the flight has been able to respond to calls faster than ever thanks to the newly installed 911 system.

The joint dispatch center is manned at two locations by the Army Provost Marshall's Office and Air Force firefighters who are Department of Defense-certified telecommunicators. Having installation-wide 911 capability has cut up to three minutes off of response times.

Though working in the dispatch center can be slow at times, its impact is not overlooked.

"It's not as exciting or as hands-on as firefighting, but I understand the importance of it," said Airman 1st Class Matthew Clayton, 332nd ECES firefighter. "This is the nerve center of emergency response at Balad."

Even the most advanced dispatch system can't compensate for a flight not able to do its job but that’s something Chief Raymond doesn't worry about.

"I was really concerned when I got here," he said. "We only had two (master sergeants), four (technical sergeants) and a lot of one-stripers but I can't think of a task or job I've asked them to do that they haven't gotten done."

Chief Raymond also credits the Army firefighters under his command with making the mission here a success.