Firefighters prepared when disaster strikes

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shaun Emery
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  When there is an emergency, they are on the scene protecting Airmen and resources. But firefighters here do more than just battle flames; their inspections and training programs are tools they use to prevent emergencies that pose risks to fellow Airmen.

“We provide aircraft crash rescue and structural firefighters 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Tech. Sgt. George Stacey, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron assistant chief of fire protection. “We are the first responders for emergency medical calls, but most importantly, we keep Balad safe from fire with a strong fire prevention program.”

When Airman 1st Class Paul Bradford arrives on scene, the fire protection rescue crewmember enusres everyone is out of the facility, and if they are not, gets them out. Rescue teams are trained to help people in a variety of situations, from pilot extraction in an aircraft emergency to confined-space extraction.

“We can even rappel down the tower to rescue someone if ground exits are blocked off,” Airman Bradford said.

As first responders, fire protection crews often put themselves in harm’s way, Sergeant Stacey said.

“In the event of an alarm red situation where personnel are possibly injured, you tend to forget about your personal safety because you have a job to do,” he said.

The summer heat and stress on generators have been keeping the fire department busy, Sergeant Stacey said.

“The heat is causing a lot of generators to overload,” he said. “In some cases the wiring hasn’t been up to standard, which has caused a few fires.”

Trying to avoid possible emergencies, firefighters conduct numerous inspections to locate areas of concern. They check for bad outlets and wiring, identify hazardous materials and make sure there are adequate escape routes and fire extinguishers available.

Not all emergencies can be predicted and not all are the same, Sergeant Stacey said. Therefore, he said it is important firefighters not get complacent.

“Nothing is routine here, so we are constantly training,” he said. “With the help of some great noncommissioned officers, we are preparing our Airmen to face everything.”