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Volunteer firefighter puts out flightline blaze

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jared Trimarchi
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar --  April 17, 2014, was just a normal day on the flightline for Staff Sgt. William Dunham, a munitions system specialist assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

That is until an electrical fire broke out on a generator, which runs on jet fuel and was hooked up to a B-1B Lancer.

Luckily, Dunham is a volunteer firefighter for the city of Box Elder, S.D., which is just outside of Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., where he is stationed. Seven years of being a qualified firefighter, led him to knowing exactly what to do during the situation.

"The first thing instilled in electrical fire training is to get rid of the power source and I knew to look beyond the initial wires which caught on fire," said Dunham, a Chico, Calif., native. "My coworker blew out the initial fire which burnt through wire insulation, and I immediately started looking for the source."

As the generator was still smoking and aflame, Dunham grabbed the closest fire extinguisher and put out the fire preventing it from growing and causing damage to the aircraft.

"I never thought during my deployment I would be putting out a fire," Dunham said. "I also don't think what I did was heroic. To be honest, I was just doing my job."

Though Dunham felt he was just doing his job, the generator which cost nearly $74,000 was salvageable and is currently in working order, due to his quick actions.

Tech. Sgt. John Casey, one of Dunham's supervisors who witnessed the event, said his actions were heroic.

"I sure am glad Sgt. Dunham knew what to do during the situation," Casey said. "He is a stand up Airman and deserves recognition for putting out the fire."

Although the whole scenario played out in just over 30 seconds, Dunham said he will never forget the day.

"Being in the Air Force and being a fireman are equally rewarding," Dunham said. "In one job, I get to protect the courageous service members who protect our freedoms by providing B-1s with munitions, and in the other job I get to help make someone's day better by providing care or putting out fires. I am lucky to have both jobs and won't forget the day I put out a fire on the flightline."