U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Sean Barnette, 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, pulls Sgt. Michael Nettles, 68th Medical Evacuation Company, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, from a UH-60 Blackhawk during a training exercise at Forward Operating Base Salerno. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Cheryl Ransford
Firefighters Answer the Call
Air Force firemen remain ready to respond to aircraft and tent fires as well as overturned vehicles at Forward Operating Base Salerno
By U.S. Army Spc. Cheryl Ransford 17th Public Affairs Detachment
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan, Nov. 16, 2004 –– With safety in the forefront of everyone’s minds, having firefighters ready and standing by is important when an emergency happens on base.
Four airmen run the fire department at Forward Operating Base Salerno from Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, who respond to most emergencies here.
The types of emergencies the team is prepared to react to range from aircraft and tent fires to overturned vehicles, said Air Force Senior Airman Sean Barnette, 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron.
“By having a team of trained firemen on base to react to emergencies, the chances of something getting out of control are lessened,” he said.
One of the main roles of the firemen is ensuring the aircraft land without any problems.
“We are on the flight line, ready to go, every time a prop-type aircraft lands, in case something were to happen during landing,” said Barnette.
While the firemen work with the aircraft most of the time, they are also ready to handle just about any other type of emergency that may arise, said Air Force Airman 1st Class Joshua Flagle, 376th ECES.
Since most of the personnel at Forward Operating Base Salerno live and work in tents, the biggest concern is electrical fires inside the tents.