Delaware National
GuardDelaware Air Guard Firefighters named Fire Department of the Year
By Master Sgt. Mitchell G. Gauge, Training Chief, 166th Airlift Wing Fire Department
Delaware’s own 166th Airlift Wing Fire Department has been selected by an impartial panel as the Air National Guard Fire Department of the Year for 2001. In June, the unit received notification from Chief Master Sgt. Larry Hall, Fire Chief of the 151st Air Refueling Wing in Salt Lake City, Utah, and President of the Air National Guard Fire Chiefs Association.
The 166th received top marks in earning this national honor. Criteria for the award is based on overall fire department function in community relations, Inspector General Inspection results, fire department operations, fire prevention and technical services functions, and training and management, said Maj. Peter A. Klabunde, Base Civil Engineer/Fire Marshal.
During Fiscal Year 2001, the 166th Fire Department supported four rotations to the United Arab Emirates in support of Operation Southern Watch; two deployments to Curacao, Dutch West Indies; and two deployments to Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia, supporting Operation Southern Watch. They also deployed and supported drug interdiction missions in Puerto Rico and South America along with deploying to Cairo, Egypt in support of Operation Bright Star. All of this was accomplished while maintaining home base mission support and community relations programs based out of the New Castle County Air Base.
While at home station, firefighters of the 166th orchestrated fire prevention programs both on-base and in support of Fire Prevention Month programs in the community. They successfully carried out an aggressive training program to bring fire fighters into compliance with Department of Defense/NFPA certification requirements and the group was also active off base, responding to a number of mutual aid assistance requests. These requests included assistance at a motor vehicle collision (with a casualty trapped in the vehicle) at Hares Corner, Wilmington Manor; a salvage yard fire in Minquadale; a water treatment facility fire in the City of Wilmington; an ARFF stand-by with the City of Wilmington during a presidential visit; and an out of state response to assist Elkton, Maryland, at a water treatment facility fire.
Members of the Delaware Air National Guard Fire Department represent a cross section of the Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Volunteer Fire Service. Demographics of the organization are; 24 full-time Fire Fighters, 1 fulltime Fire Chief and 14 Traditional (part-time) fire fighters, all on call for world-wide deployment when the need arises. Each community represented has a lot to be proud of for the accomplishments of their Air National Guard Fire Fighters.
On Tuesday, August 27th at the Air National Guard Fire Chiefs Association awards banquet in Kansas City, Missouri, the 166th will be formally presented with the Chief Master Sgt. Edward W. Wolbert Award for Outstanding Service and Support during the joint Department of Defense/IAFC Fire Rescue International Conference.