KAFBFD named Global Strike Fire Dept. of year

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. J.D. Strong II
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

The Chicago Bulls, Montreal Canadiens, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, Oakland A’s and the Kirtland Air Force Base Fire Department. What do these organizations have in common? Three-peats.  

The KAFBFD won the Global Strike Command Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Ralph E. Sanborn Fire Department of the Year award for the Large Base category for the third straight year.

“I believe the reason we are better than the rest is because of the people we have here,” said Jaime Jimenez, 377th Civil Engineers Squadron deputy fire chief. “We have incredible people, incredible leaders and the Chief’s vision is what drives us.”

The Kirtland Fire Department provides 365 day, 24/7 coverage not only to the 377th Air Base Wing mission but to the Department Of Energy, Sandia National Labs and the many other mission partners on Kirtland. In addition to serving the installation, the Fire Department supports the Sunport International Airport’s crash operations.

While supporting these various missions, the KAFBFD responds to more than 1,800 emergencies annually. They also utilize more than 73,000 man-hours in responding to emergencies and maintaining various programs such as equipment testing, high pressure hose testing, hazmat suit taskings and personal protective equipment inspections and testing.

 “It’s always great for the team to be recognized, the team is who does all the work. We have a tremendous group of leaders at all levels and when they come to work, they come to work,” said Chief Darrell Stewart, 377tht Kirtland installation fire chief.

Despite the success the team has already garnered, they aren’t done with improving themselves. The team has been working with another base agency to better impact the mission.

“We have been working closely with Colonel Stewart and the 377th Medical Group. We looked at the level of emergency medical services provided to our community and we realized a gap in our mission requirements and the ability to deliver advanced life support treatment while in the hot-zone,” said Stewart. “We are working on getting the approval to hire firefighter paramedics. It’s one more mission challenge for us that the team will take on and it will be great for the community because we will be able to provide that extra step of advanced life support to save lives.”

The Kirtland Fire Department will now compete at the Air Force level for the Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Ralph E. Sanborn Fire Department of the Year Award.