Total force training sharpens firefighters’ skills Published April 23, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Raughton 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Firefighters of the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron and the 307th CES were called to a fire incident on Langley Drive April 20. A fire had erupted from the kitchen of a housing duplex and in less than seven minutes Ladder 21 of the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron was on the scene. A firefighter smashed open the back door of the house and thick smoke came pouring out. Moments later, firefighters emerged from the house carrying the figures of the victims. The firefighters of Ladder 21 were prepared for the worst, but a family is safe as a result of their actions in the line of duty and their training. And that is exactly what this was. A training exercise designed to give firefighters experience in the incident of a house fire. "Our goal is to perfect our training," said Staff Sgt. Antjuan Hill, 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron fire department crew chief. "We train like this to make sure that when an incident happens indoors we're ready to deal with it." In order for firefighters to be prepared to do their job successfully in an interior fire incident, several goals must be met. "The first goal is to establish a nearby water supply," said Gerard Jolly, 307th CES assistant chief of operations. "Our other goals are to establish an initial attack line and a rapid intervention team." The water supply and initial attack line goals were met when the first firefighter attached the fire hose to the hydrant and other firefighters moved the remaining hoses into position to effectively brave the flames. Hill emphasized the importance of this training. "If someone is cooking in the kitchen and something catches on fire, we have to make sure everyone is evacuated and then take care of the fire," he said. "The fire will get into the ducts and affect the floors upstairs as well." The training which establishes goals and priorities is strategic. "Our first priority is life conservation," said Hill. "If someone's in there, we get them out. The second priority is property conservation." The training doesn't just help ensure the safety of other Airmen, but the firefighters themselves. "Our training not only helps us here, but helps us when we go downrange as well," said Hill. Hill applauds Team Barksdale for making fire prevention a priority, but if an incident were to take place, Airmen can rest assured not only the firefighters of Ladder 21, but the rest of Barksdale's Fire prevention team are trained and prepared to battle the blazes.