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380AEW Article

Fire, EM decontamination training

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Paige Weldon
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBLITY --  

U.S. Air Force 380th First Responder Element fire emergency services specialists and 380th Emergency Management Element emergency management specialists discuss how to use a decontamination shower within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2025. EM demonstrated how to use their decontamination shower and tested the fire Airmen on proper technique to verify their proficiency.

A woman in a military uniform hold the edge of a large black tarp.

Fire, EM decontamination training

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. April Edwards, 380th First Responder Element deputy fire chief, unfolds a large decontamination pool within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2025. Decontamination is a multistep process to clean members and their equipment and targets known hot spots where contaminants build up. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)
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A man in a military uniform assembles a metal hoop.

Fire, EM decontamination training

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Riese Ornelas, 380th First Responder Element fire emergency services specialist, assembles a decontamination shower within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2025. Emergency Management Airmen demonstrated how to use their decontamination shower and tested the fire Airmen on proper technique to verify their proficiency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)
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People in military unifroms gather on a large tarp and look at metal hoops.

Fire, EM decontamination training

U.S. Air Force 380th First Responder Element fire emergency services specialist and 380th Emergency Management Element emergency management specialists discuss how to use a decontamination shower within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2025. EM demonstrated how to use their decontamination shower and tested the fire Airmen on proper technique to verify their proficiency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)
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A man in a military uniform stands on one leg as other men in military uniforms raise a metal hooparound his body.

Fire, EM decontamination training

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Taylor Beard, right, 380th First Responder Element fire emergency services specialist, raises a decontamination shower while Senior Airman Asher Hunter, 380th Emergency Management Element emergency management specialist, center, demonstrates decontamination procedures within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2025. Fire and EM collaborated during decontamination training to understand how they can better assist each other in the case of an emergency of any scale. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)
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A man in a firefighter uniform raises his arms inside a metal hoop.

Fire, EM decontamination training

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Hunter Heikkila, 380th First Responder Element fire emergency services specialist, simulates decontamination procedures within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2025. Two Airmen operated the decontamination shower while another aided Heikkila in removing his equipment and placing it in the proper receptacles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)
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A man scrubs the helmet of a man in a firefighter unifrom.

Fire, EM decontamination training

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Justin Popovich, 380th First Responder Element fire driver operator, left, and Airman 1st Class Hunter Heikkila, 380th First Responder Element fire emergency services specialist, simulate decontamination procedures within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2025. Decontamination is a multistep process to clean members and their equipment and targets known hot spots where contaminants build up. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)
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A man in a firefighter uniform's mask is scrubbed with a large brush.

Fire, EM decontamination training

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Justin Popovich, 380th First Responder Element fire driver operator, left, scrubs contamination off of Airman 1st Class Hunter Heikkila, 380th First Responder Element fire emergency services specialist, in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2025. Two Airmen used decontamination supplies while another aided Heikkila in removing his equipment and placing it in the proper receptacles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)
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A metal hoop is held above the head of a man in a firefighter uniform.

Fire, EM decontamination training

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Hunter Heikkila, 380th First Responder Element fire emergency services specialist, simulates using a decontamination shower within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2025. Airmen use decontamination showers to remove contaminants from members and their equipment and ensure safety after exposure. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)
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A man removes a mask from another man's face.

Fire, EM decontamination training

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Justin Popovich, 380th First Responder Element fire driver operator, left, assists Airman 1st Class Hunter Heikkila, 380th First Responder Element fire emergency services specialist, in removing his mask in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2025. Airmen decontaminated Heikkila’s gear to eliminate the possibility of others coming in contact with potential harmful materials and substances. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)
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