F.E. Warren Fire Department Best in DoD

Published Sept. 24, 2010
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The fire department at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., walked away with top honors from the Department of Defense during the Fire and Emergency Services banquet held in Chicago recently.

The 90th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department was named DoD's "top small unit" for 2009 for saving lives and providing crucial support to the community, according to Fire Chief Mr. John McDougall, 90th CES.

"We set the standard in the fire department here pretty high, and I think that's the theme throughout the wing and throughout Air Force Global Strike Command," said Mr. McDougall, who accepted the award Aug. 27.

Many of the emergency calls included off base accidents during extreme weather conditions, according to Mr. Greg Chesser, 90 CES, assistant fire chief for fire prevention.

In one case, during a blinding snowfall, the team extricated and stabilized many victims involved in a 17 car pile-up on a nearby interstate, said Mr. Chesser. Deadly ice contributed to another serious accident involving 20 vehicles, during which the team rescued several people to include a man trapped in a car.

The award recognized the team's response to these situations, in addition to more than 300 medical, structural and hazardous material incidents while providing 24 hour-a-day, seven day-a-week coverage of a 12,600-square-mile missile complex.

F.E. Warren's prevention program earned an Air Force award earlier this year and includes a variety of educational initiatives.

"Because of an aggressive prevention program, it has been four and half years since we had a fire on base," said Mr. Chesser. "Our focus is to prevent fires, but when they happen, we're ready to respond."

The fire department has also been honored as the Air Force's and AFGSC's 2009 Fire Department of the Year. The department also received AFGSC's Fire Prevention Program of the Year 2009 award.