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AF firefighters deploy to bare base

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
  • Air Forces Centeral Combat Correspondent
QALAT, Afghanistan --  Firefighters from U.S. Air Forces Central Command's A7, Civil Engineers quick strike team recently set up shop at Forward Operating Base Apache in Qalat, Afghanistan.

Their mission is the difference between life and death; between a base being fed and supplies not able to come in.

Members from the QST, which are from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., are here to provide crash, fire and rescue support (CFR) to lower operational risk management for the C-27 aircraft.

"Currently, ORM only allows for us to fly four flights in 14 days here without crash, fire, rescue on scene," said Maj. Jason Helton, air mobility liaison officer for regional command south. "Now that CFR has arrived, we can land as many planes as we want."

The mission of the C-27 is unique -- an Air Force plane, flown and operated by Air Force and Army Guard personnel. The C-27 is able to land in remote locations, and provide movement of personnel and cargo that a helicopter isn't capable of. In the case of FOB Apache, the C-27 is the means of delivery for supplies and personnel.

"The fact that we can now fly supplies in, means less supply convoys my men will have to run," said Army 1st Sgt. Mark Dasch, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry and native of Pottsville, Pa. "Less convoys mean less causalities. It's that simple."

With the C-27 aircraft being officially operational, it needs approved places to fly in and out of. That's where the QST comes in.

In order for a C-27 to fly in and out of the FOB's dirt runway, a CFR team needs to be on call in case something happens.

"During each landing, our team will be out here, ready in case something happens," said Master Sgt. Robert Laning, fire chief and native of Kawela Bay, Hawaii. "If a fixed wing aircraft is scheduled to land, we will be pre-positioned, ready to welcome that aircraft."

Along with the arrival of the crew and their three P-19 fire engines, their fx kit includes everything needed to handle putting out fires and rescuing people.

"The fx kit is essentially a fire station in a box," said Tech. Sgt. Gabriel Johnson, deputy fire chief and native of King George County, Va. "We've been building the kit since we've arrived in theater."

The team's main objective is CFR, but it's not their only objective. On top of providing CFR support, the six man team also covers FOB Apache and neighbor, FOB Davis, with fire protection.

"In most situations, we support the base fire department," said Laning. "But in this situation, we are not only responding to crashes, but we're also setting up the FOB's fire department."

The firefighter's presence is valued by the base's leadership.

"Before they arrived, we had no firefighters here," said Dasch. "About four years ago, 14 buildings burned down, almost bringing this entire place with it. Now that we have actual firefighters here, things are much safer."