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The 86th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters, alongside the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainers, performed an annual extraction exercise Aug. 23 on Ramstein.
The training increased firefighters’ and aircraft maintainers’ proficiency in rescuing individuals from an aircraft.
Staff Sgt. Joseph Bagnasco, 86 CES fire protection crew chief, said the training properly prepared the Airmen for real-life scenarios.
“Our job as firefighters is to save lives and property,” Bagnasco said. “It’s important to do this annual training to keep us all sharp and refreshed on this process… I feel we did well, especially in staying safe and having everyone properly communicate with each other.”
During a flight, crises can arise that demand immediate attention including allergic reactions, gas and chemical leaks or fire hazards.
Tech. Sgt. Daniel Hardin, 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron fuel systems lead technician, said the training prepared Airmen for serious situations that can arise mid-flight and need rapid response.
“Situations such as chemically-induced overexposure and heat strokes can occur on the flightline, and we all want to be prepared for it,” Hardin said.
Firefighters trained on rescuing individuals from atop the wing of an aircraft and successfully transporting individuals safely from the plane to the emergency service vehicles.
721 AMXS Airmen cooperated with firefighters, becoming more prepared to communicate with 20-plus Airmen at the scene. Part of that preparation includes teamwork with other units, Hardin said.
“We all want to cooperate together to make the process as smooth as possible,” Hardin explained. “If we all can work out the flaws in a training environment, then we should be able to tackle any situation, should it arise, as professional and proficient as we can.”
Acting as the firemen of the Air Force, fire protection specialists deal with everything from brush fires to burning rocket fuel and hazardous material fires. However, they cannot accomplish all their jobs and maintain mission readiness without the help of Airmen such as aircraft maintainers. These individuals continue to uphold the 86th Airlift Wing’s mission and ensure the safety of others in the Kaiserslautern Military Community every day.
For fire safety concerns or questions, please contact Ramstein Fire Station 1 at 480-5511 or 06371-47-5511.
