Westover civilian firefighters win 2009 AFRC fire prevention program of the year

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Timm Huffman
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  The Westover Fire Department was named the 2009 Air Force Reserve Command fire prevention program of the year by Maj. Gen. Martin M. Mazick, the AFRC vice commander.

     The award recognizes Westover's fire prevention division for their outstanding work, said Mr. Charles Van Gorden, the base's fire chief.

     "We've never won before and to actually be recognized at the AFRC level makes us proud and it justifies the work we've been doing here," the fire chief said. 
    
     The three-man prevention team is responsible for maintaining code compliance on over 1.4 million square feet of facilities, conducting training on various fire suppression systems, and performing unscheduled special inspections that ensure fire safety.

     The team has had zero dollar loss due to fire since the team took over in 2003. It has a 100 percent in-service rate of all suppression systems and it recently coordinated with the National Forest Service to conduct a 2,365-acre controlled burn of Westover's grasslands.

     The fire chief praised the efforts of his three-man fire prevention team, as well as the quality of people at Westover.

     "It's really two fold, because we can set all the fire prevention rules we want, but without the people at Westover following the program, the rules and programs are worthless," Mr. Van Gorden said. "Westover as a whole has always supported us over the years, and that's important."

     One of Westover's fire inspectors, Mr. Edward Renauld, cited the work they have done on the bases fire suppression systems and their community involvement as two main reasons for winning the award.

     Mr. Marc Michaud, the assistant chief for fire prevention, said a big part of the team's success comes from the hard work and dedication of Westover's two fire inspectors: Mr. Renauld and Mr. Anthony Carfiro.

     "They are the backbone and they go above and beyond," Mr. Michaud said. "If anyone deserves this, they do."