386th firefighters train with the hot stuff

Published March 31, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Patrice Clarke
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- As the old adage goes, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." The members of the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer fire department don't have that option. When the temperature is rising and the fire is burning, it's those Airmen who are running in to save the day.

The members of the Rock Fire Department tested their "save the day" skills during live fire training at the Mobile Aircraft Firefighting Training Device at another U.S. military installation in Southwest Asia March 25-26.

The trainer, which in this case simulated a C-130H Hercules, provides live aircraft firefighting training variations from simple scenarios to more complex situations, which include rescuing life-size manikins.

"It's really not easy getting this training stateside," said Master Sgt. David MacCudden, the deputy fire chief assigned to the 386th ECES. "Any opportunity to do this training is an opportunity we are going to take. Many times we have to do classroom training, or computer-based training instead of seeing a live fire."

The trainer is built to be configured to different scenarios in order to duplicate what the firefighter might see in an aircraft fire. Scenarios vary from those that are only fire, fire and smoke, or just smoke from 11 different points throughout the trainer.

It's the variation of scenarios that is the main training point for Staff Sgt. Matthew Liechti, a veteran firefighter from Saint Joseph, Mo., and deployed from the 139th Airlift Wing Civil Engineer Squadron.

"The different scenarios really help with training," said Sergeant Liechti. "We try to tell the younger firefighters that they need to get out of the idea of tunnel vision. It's not just about the fire, it's also the people around you, your surroundings, everything."

The 11-year firefighter and Guardsman stresses that putting out the fire is sometimes the easiest part.

"It's not always about the fire," he said. "You have to think about smoke, falling debris, victims and collapsing roofs."

Though it's sometimes not always about the fire, for many of the younger firefighters, the fire is what they look for, or more importantly the rush they get from fighting the fire.

"Most firefighters do the job because when the fire is going and your trying to put it out, it's a rush," said Senior Airman Andrew Pepin, a firefighter deployed from the 179th Airlift Wing Civil Engineer Squadron. "It's just you and the fire and it's your job to stop it. I don't think about anything else except stopping the fire."

To stop that fire, the Mansfield, Ohio, native suggests that every firefighter needs a healthy dose of self-confidence.

"In this profession confidence is everything," said Airman Pepin. "You have to know without a doubt that you can put that fire out, that you won't fail and that you will get it done."

Putting out the fire is something both Airman Pepin and Sergeant Liechti have wanted to do since they were young.

"I've always wanted to be a firefighter, ever since I was six," said Airman Pepin. "I was a firefighter for Halloween every year from about age six to 14."

Sergeant Liechti shares that same sentiment.

"Like all little kids, I either wanted to be a firefighter, the president or a policeman," said Sergeant Liechti. "I lucked out and am able to do what I've always wanted to do."

The training and dedication from the members of the Rock Fire Department is what sets them apart. Rock members can sleep easy knowing that when the temperature rises and the fire is burning, the Rock Fire Department is there to save the day.