Firefighters: Training to protect

  • Published
  • By Airman Shawna L. Keyes
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Sirens blast throughout the building. Airmen jump to their feet and proceed to their assigned trucks while a voice over head can be heard ...

"Alarm medical emergency"

At their trucks, the Airmen begin putting their gear on, which must be completed in less than two minutes; boots, suits, gloves, and helmet. Every second counts.

Whether it's an in-flight, medical or fire emergency, this is the routine for these first responders, the Airmen of the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department.  To ensure they're prepared for any type of situation, the roughly 70 firefighters conduct a daily, dynamic training regimen to protect the more than 13,000 personnel and more than 100 aircraft assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.

"We train, literally train every day," said Staff Sgt. Justin Fellure, 4th CES fire department crew chief. "As firefighters, we are required to maintain our certifications, so every day we're doing something, whether it's to do with firefighting, either structural or aircraft, medical emergencies, or technical rescues, like repelling to a victim."

Firefighters are on shift for 24 hours starting and ending at 7:30 a.m., with an "A" and a "B" shift swapping places. The morning starts with vehicle and equipment checks, making sure everything is good to go and then into whatever training is planned for the day in between emergency responses.

"We prepare for any emergency on any given day," Fellure said. "We switch up the type of training to meet our certifications and stay sharp, because one false move and we could end up hurting ourselves, a fellow firefighter, or the person we're trying to rescue."

Airmen conduct various types of training by using smoke machines in different buildings or rooms and placing obstacles to simulate real-world scenarios. They also practice with live fire drills, aircraft drills, and repelling, which is used when all exits are blocked and the only way out of a building is a window.

With two different wings at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, the 4th Fighter Wing and 916th Air Refueling Wing, the 4th CES fire department plays host to both active duty and reserve firefighters, as well as being trained to handle flight emergencies with both the F-15E Strike Eagle and KC-135R Stratotanker.

"We're kind of unique in that we deal with commands, two wings, two separate missions, and only one fire department to handle it all," said Sean Quinby, 4th CES fire chief. "If it's on this base, we're responsible for it; the buildings, the aircraft, and the people."

With all the assets they protect and the long shifts, Airmen in this career come to see their co-workers as a second family and develop what Fellure calls a "fiery bond."

"I love this job more than anything, I love training and bettering myself, along with training the younger Airmen and helping make them better firefighters and Airmen," Fellure said. "We're a family here, I see these guys as much as I see my own family, so we have to have a really tight bond." 

Fellure and the rest of his team keep that family mentality with them when they respond to emergencies and even treat the victims like one of their own to make them feel more at ease.

"I have a huge passion for this job," Fellure said. "I love being there for the community, I go to them on their worst day and I want to be there to help them and make it a little better."