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Show 1CZ Hmop& July 23, 1998 Firefighters Busy base crews remain alert to fire dangers behind the scenes, ready to Spring into action by SSgt. Timothy Trager Hilltop Times staff when they are needed. The firefighters at Station 1 start their day washing the trucks and thoroughly inspecting the equipment. After they're finished with their morning routine it's time for training. The firefighters train every day for a variety of situations including aircrew extractions, runway barrier training, wild land fire fighting, hazardous material containment and countless other lire fighting tactics. 24-ho- ur night when we go to bed, they are there. day when we leave our home unattended are there. When we leave our work place each afternoon, ; ""' they are there. Most of us don't give them a conscious thought, but the Hill AFB firefighters are always there Each he Hill Fire Department is part of the 75th Civil r Engineering Group and has three stations. Station No.l is at 5935 C Ave. in the east area, Station No. 2 is at 7954 Georgia Street in the west area, and the third is at the Survivability and Vulnerability Test Center at Little Mountain. The stations have a combination of 78 military and civilian firefighters that work a week of three, 24-ho- ur 72-ho- ur shifts. Each shift has minimum of 21 firefighters on duty. After seven shifts they receive a "kelly day" which is an extra and leave at 8 a.m. the next morning. They literally live and work here on their shift." In spite of low manning the firefighters accomplish an amazing mission. In June the department inspected 106 buildings, trained 1,299 personnel and responded to 235 other calls. s hultz said people can cut down the number of fire incidents by simply paying more attention. In the work area, hot chips of metal from grinding operations and rag fires are most common. In the home, unattended cooking is the culprit. Also extra care should be taken . when barbecuing (See related article, Page 17). "The brush fire season is here, and the conditions are becoming just right because things are starting to dry out," said condiSchultz. "I expect to see fire becomactivity pick up dramatically in the next few weeks. The main danger area is to the east along U.S. Highway 89 because of the open space and rough terrain. "We have a mutual aid agreement with the 13 surrounding to communities," said Shultz. "It's an agreement that provides out. : oY season is here; and the tions are ing just right because things are starting dry additional resources if need day off. be. If they need us theyall us, "The national average for and if we need them wecall week, firefighters is a them.r but because of manning my "7 Robert M. Shultz The National Forest. Ser Vice people work a little more than gir tanker was recently staf the average," said Robert M. tione.d here and wiUbegf. f 5hultz, fire chief. "A lot of people don't realize these people don't come in at 8 for the remainder of the fire season. ' a.m. and leave at 4 p.m. They come in at 8 a.m. "The tanker services Utah and many of the surrounding states," said Shultz "The tanker holds 3,000 gallons of water or fire retard ant and can fly as far away as New Mexico if they The tanker is here on a support agree:: ment every year." Shultz has been a fire chief for nine years and has been the chief at Hill for 18 months. "The best part of this job is serving the public like we are charged to do in the best way that we can, and sending all my people home safe to their families every day," said Shultz. "I have an obligation to my people as well as the public to make sure they have the proper equipment and training to do the job right and to keep everyone safe." 1 53-ho- X'-'y- 't , are-neede- d. host-tena; nt 77i5 1x- - 1 Photo by SSgt Timothy Tragw Stephen Green, pump operator, above, uses the pump panel to control water flow to each fire hose. Right, firefighters simulate a rescue using a "Rescue Randy" which approximates the size and weight of a person. A1 C li POOR C |