Major accident response exercise prepares Fairchild for SkyFest

by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

4/30/2014 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Fairchild Airmen practiced emergency response procedures during a major accident response exercise preparing the base for the upcoming SkyFest open house and air show here April 22 to 24.

There isn't any expectation for an accident to occur, but practicing for various emergency scenarios allows those response agencies the opportunity to be ready, to mitigate potential issues and, in the rare event something does occur, to save lives.

"This was an awesome opportunity for our emergency responders to practice for the real deal," said Lt. Col. Jason Campbell, the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron commander.

The installation's emergency responders worked alongside partnering agencies from around the community to ensure seamless operations, especially during a crisis.

"We set a new benchmark for Fairchild," Campbell said. "Our partnerships with downtown emergency responders are as strong as ever and with the lessons we've learned from this MARE, we're ready for the air show."

Fairchild emergency responders worked hand-in-hand with nine off-base agencies as part of the Spokane County Incident Management Team. This Type III response team includes various agencies, such as fire, medical and law enforcement from various organizations and jurisdictions within a state or region, activated to support incidents that extend beyond one operational period. These agencies will be staged on base during the air show in order achieve maximum preparedness and response in coordination with Fairchild emergency response organizations.

"I suggested we ask the Spokane County IMT to shadow us in the emergency operations center and invited our mutual aid partners to help us with a combined response force ready to act," said Kimo Kuheana, the Fairchild Fire Emergency Services fire chief. "The IMT provides a vast liaison between Fairchild and Spokane County resources that would be needed in case of a major event. By having them already in place along with our security forces, medical personnel and mutual aid forces puts Fairchild in a best case scenario for a quick response."

Kuheana said the MARE served as a great opportunity to see how the installation's emergency responders with nine mutual aid agencies would work together in a mass casualty event.

"I have never seen that many outside agencies working together so flawlessly, and especially for an exercise," Kuheana marveled. "The Wing Inspection Team did a fantastic job putting it together and evaluating the entire exercise."

With more than 100,000 spectators expected to attend this year's air show, exercises like these are specifically designed to test the base's response to disaster.

"Our main focus is to safely respond and mitigate the emergency," explained Kuheana. "I can't stress how important running exercises like these are as it gives us an opportunity to see how each agency works, ensuring operations run smoothly. It really makes a difference in how we respond for a real event."

Kuheana said MAREs, table top exercises and weekly meetings among all emergency responders and other event players is the best preparation for any air show.

"I just recently became fire chief and had a few goals I wanted to accomplish during my tenure, figuring they would take a few years to accomplish," Kuheana continued. "One of them was to bridge the gap between our department and all of our off-base departments with particular focus on communication, training and joint response, so that together we can make this a safer place for all our citizens in the Inland Northwest. Due to the air show preparations, we have met these goals much faster than planned!"

While there are many players in making sure SkyFest 2014 is a success, Kuheana said knowing his team is prepared to answer the call will make SkyFest that much more safe and fun for all involved.

"I have told many responders over the past few weeks that we are to be mentally and operationally ready to respond to all scenarios," he said. "It is hard to put into words what emergency responders provide until it's a bad day -- then people understand what we do and why we are here."

As is every emergency responders wish, Kuheana said he hopes nothing happens and everyone can sit back and enjoy SkyFest.

"But if something does happen, know that your Community Emergency Response Force is capable and ready," he said assuredly.