Quick fire response saves $52 million in vital equipment

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Don Branum
  • 332nd AEW/PA
Four Airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here protected $52 million in aircraft parts from being damaged or destroyed with their quick response to an electrical fire Sept. 22.

Staff Sgt. Akeilee Murchison, Senior Airman Heather Libiszewski, Airman 1st Class Mayra Colon-Santiago and Airman Martin Renzi responded within moments of detecting the fire, which was caused by a broken gaslight fixture, in the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Aircraft Parts Store.

"Airman Colon-Santiago smelled smoke and notified us there was a fire," Murchison said. "Renzi and I saw the flames coming from the fixture." Libiszewski located the nearest fire extinguisher and cleared the ground fire, then handed the extinguisher to Renzi, who smothered the fire at the base of the fixture.

Meanwhile, Murchison called 911 and directed the Joint Base Balad Fire Department to the scene.

After the fire, officials with the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron turned off power to the building. They determined that faulty wiring in the light ballast caused the gaslight to burst and started the fire, and they checked the remaining ballasts to ensure no others had faults, said Master Sgt. Stacey Harter, deputy chief of the Joint Base Balad Fire Department.

Murchison and Senior Airman William McCarthy, both deployed from Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., made sure fire extinguishers in other 332nd ELRS work centers are identified and easily accessible so that other Airmen could similarly prevent fires from spreading out of control. Murchison is now a unit safety representative for the squadron.

The Air Force requires Airmen to be trained on fire extinguisher safety annually for emergency situations such as the one in which Murchison and her Airmen found themselves, said Senior Master Sgt. James Ferrari, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing ground safety manager. The annual training will help Airmen remember which fire extinguishers should be used for grease-burning, electrical or other fires.

"What these Airmen did is a great thing, and we need to make sure all our Airmen are prepared to take the initiative if a fire breaks out in their workcenters," said Ferrari, who is deployed from the Air National Guard's 110th Fighter Wing in Battle Creek, Mich.

Airmen should inspect fire extinguishers in their work areas and living quarters at least once a month, Ferrari said. To inspect the fire extinguisher, pick it up in both hands, give it a good shake and check the pressure gauge at the top. The shake helps the dry chemicals within ABC-type and BC-type fire extinguishers mix properly and ensures the extinguisher is full.