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Saving lives: In the heat of the moment

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jack Sanders
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) --  In aftermath of the events of 9/11, the American people witnessed the responsibility and importance of firefighters.

Elmendorf Air Force Base firefighter responsibilities include keeping the aircraft on the flightline safe, continuous training, and demonstrating the importance of fire safety. 

"Being a firefighter comes with many challenges, but it's exciting," said Airman 1st Class Andrew Morris, a 3rd Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter. Airman Morris is new to the career field, but said he feels enthusiastic about his job.

Unlike most jobs where one particular element is more challenging than others, with firefighting, everything is hard, said Staff Sgt. Scott Strobel, the 3rd CES rescue crew chief.

"It's especially difficult for the rescue crew," Sergeant Strobel said. "If an F-22 (Raptor) comes in with problems, that's a $185 million aircraft you're responsible for."

"We've got to know the F-22, the F-15 (Eagle), the C-17 (Globemaster III) and a dozen other aircraft in and out," sergeant Strobel said. "We have to know all their egress procedures, how to get in the aircraft and the specifications on them."

Air Force fire protection specialties differ from those of civilian fire protection.

"If you go to a civilian department you'll find firefighters; you'll find another unit for EMS, and you'll have another unit that's hazmat," said Tech. Sgt. Rikk Matteson, the 3rd CES A shift battalion chief. "Those units only do one thing and that's primarily their job." 

Unlike their civilian counterparts, Air Force fire protection members are required to train and take on all specialites.

"We specialize in all of them," Sergeant Matteson said.

It's a firefighter's main goal to protect life and property, Sergeant Strobel said. When the time comes to take on a deployment, these Airmen may see an entirely different set of scenarios.

"Deployments are like night and day," Sgt. Matteson said. "I would say that at least 50 to 60 percent of the experiences that I've had in some of the better ... real-world structural fires have happened in deployments.