144th FW Conducts Multi-Agency Exercise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Klynne Pearl Serrano
  • 144th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FRESNO AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif. --  The 144th Fighter Wing conducted a multi-agency fire exercise at the Fresno Air National Guard Base July 10, 2016.

The agencies involved in the exercise included the 144th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department, emergency management and explosive ordnance disposal units.

The exercise was a terrorist scenario, which simulated the terrorist crashing his vehicle into the main gate building, which caused a fire.

"The fire department responded to the emergency, they put out the fire, and inspected the vehicle," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Allan Martin 144th CES assistant chief of training. "The firefighters discovered explosive devices inside the vehicle, which required EOD to respond."

EOD arrived at the scene and used the F6A remote ordnance neutralization system robot to inspect and safely detonate the explosives inside the vehicle.

"After EOD cleared the vehicle of the explosives, they detected a possible source of radioactivity, which the emergency management flight responded to next," Martin said. "Emergency management's job was to identify the source and render the equipment safe as well."

After the scene was deemed safe, the 144th CES firefighters had the opportunity to use hydraulic rescue tools, also called Hurst's Jaws of Life, to cut through the vehicle and recover the body of the terrorist.

"With heightened threat levels continuing to rise, it is important for agencies to take part in multi-agency exercises," Martin said. "Not only with agencies on base, but also with the surrounding communities. We work closely with the Fresno and Clovis fire departments in training as well as real world emergencies."