Prevention before protection

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Autumn Velez
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Being on the lookout for daisy chained surge protectors or running a routine fire drill might seem like mundane tasks to some Airmen, but these small processes have potential for disaster if not done correctly. That's where the Airmen of the 7th Civil Engineer Fire Protection Office step in.

"Having a separate office just for fire prevention is necessary, because without it the mission would be greatly affected," said Staff Sgt. Shayne Anglin, 7th CES fire prevention inspector. "Without fire prevention, the base would go uninspected; codes and standards would not be upheld. The risk of a fire-related incident would increase, and there would be a higher chance of a life being lost to something that was avoidable."

The fire prevention office has many daily tasks, which includes the important job of teaching newcomers and other base personnel how to prevent fires from starting in the first place.

"By giving these briefings we can disseminate information about what to do in the event of a fire to the largest amount of people," Anglin said.

The fire prevention team also conducts regular safety inspections at facilities across the base toensure everyone will be able to get out of harm's way in the event of a fire.

"During inspections we look for anything that can cause injuries or prevent people from exiting the building," Anglin said. "We check to ensure exit signs are working along with emergency lighting. Even more importantly, we ensure doors open correctly."

To put everyone to the test, the fire prevention office performs fire drills at the Child Development Center and Youth Center at least once a month, as well as at the munition storage area twice a year.

"It's important to perform fire drills so occupants are familiar with the quickest and safest way out of the building in the event of a fire," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Johnston, 7th Civil Engineer Squadron fire prevention.

Even though fire prevention has a different mission than that of rest of the department, they are constantly contributing to the entire department with their vast knowledge of the subject.

"While firefighters are on the floor, they are always training in different scenarios," Anglin said. "For fire prevention, we implement our skills on a daily basis. In order to perform our job, we must know different safety standards from National Fire Protection Association, United Facilities Criteria and Air Force instructions."

At the end of the day, the fire prevention office is about putting out fires before they have a chance to start.

"Fire prevention is vital to the safety of the Air Force's number one asset--its personnel," Johnston said.