Buckley firefighters provide insight for wing leaders

by Senior Airman Phillip Houk
460th Space Wing Public Affairs

9/10/2013 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Wing leadership donned protective firefighting equipment and rushed into a burning building during fire immersion training Sept. 5 at the Buckley Air Force Base fire training station.

Col. Dan Wright, 460th Space Wing commander; Chief Master Sgt. Craig S. Hall, 460th SW command chief; and Lt. Col. Allen Thibeaux, 460th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, conducted a search-and-rescue mission, as well as a firefighting scenario.

"It was actually very difficult," said Wright. "I was responsible for dragging the hose through the home, finding the fire and fighting it."

This training is part of a requirement to familiarize new squadron, group and wing leadership with base firefighting services.

We took the "opportunity to show the wing leadership the fire and emergency services program, what we do, what our personnel are about - specifically focusing on live fire training," said Tim Bosch, Buckley Fire and Emergency Services fire chief.

Because of the different levels involved during a base emergency, it is important for those in charge to understand the procedures of those they are commanding.

"I think commanders at all levels need to understand the situations that those who work for them face," Wright said. "Particularly in an emergency situation, it gives you a better understanding of what is going on at the tactical level."

Bosch agreed.

"It gave (them) the opportunity to see the incident command system," Bosch said. "Communication is vital to pass on information about emergency incidents."

Firefighters are one of the core groups present during an emergency, providing immediate response and lifesaving care for the 460th SW and all base partners.

"You can't fly aircraft if you do not have anyone to help get your pilots out and put out a fire," said Kenneth Martinez, Buckley firefighter, referring to the department's support of the 140th Wing, Colorado Air National Guard flying operations. "We also provide a lot of paramedic services, so you do not have to rely on off-base services.

"When in trouble, we are only a few minutes away," he said.