Burning to save lives! Published July 8, 2007 By Maj. Bill Walsh 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. -- Most people try not to set fires unless you're one of Team Charleston's finest firefighters who do just that while training to keep other people safe. "When a plane crashes, you've got every type of fire all in one," said Mr. Jeff Feltner, Charleston Air Force Base fire captain. "It's a fire, mass casualty event, hazmat (hazardous materials) scene and closed area all wrapped into one," he said while getting the wing training facility ready to burn. These firefighters know what they're doing having won some very prestigious awards over the last few months like the best fire department in Air Mobility Command and best department for the entire Air Force. "Our job is to be ready for anything and we have a plan set up for everyone who is needed to respond," assistant fire chief Roger Schwartz explains while keeping a watchful eye on the ten reservists he was supervising on this hot July afternoon. "We're more training oriented in the Air Force because safety is important and mandated while in the civilian world there is less regulation and buildings are older," Senior Airman Travis Gregg, a reserve firefighter with the 315th Civil Engineer Squadron said during his quarterly training. Active duty and full time civilian fire personnel bring priceless experience to members of the reserve force as they keep them current on all the training requirements needed to stay safe and on the job. While not in uniform for the Air Force, many of these reservists serve their local communities as firefighters. "I'm with the Croft Fire Department near Spartanburg as a civilian, but wouldn't have had the chance if it were not for the Air Force," Airman Gregg said referring to the reason he joined the service in the first place. "It costs a lot of money to get certified and the Air Force training has been more than helpful getting me a job on a fire department." It has been a tough few weeks for firefighters after nine of their brothers were lost in a Charleston furniture fire and members of Team Charleston represented the base during the memorial service held in their honor. "You hate to see that happen to any department," said asst. chief Schwartz who has been on the job since 1972. "My heart goes out to those guys." "It is a calling," explained Airman Gregg when asked about what it takes to do this job. "I've done it since I was 16 and I love it." With trucks that can dispense 1500 gallons of water a minute, these firefighters have some awesome equipment to use and maintain. "It feels just awesome," said Airman 1st Class Mendy Dillard who happens to be the only female firefighter in the squadron. "She's treated just like every other guy," Tech. Sgt. Darin Wood who fights fires for the Mayport Naval Station near Jacksonville, Florida when he's not doing reserve duty. "It's very hard training and a lot of females don't make it through," Airman Dillard noted. "Actually a lot of men don't either." This outside classroom with teachers like Master Sgt. Braxton Simmons, Chief Schwartz and the rest of the crew from Charleston keeps the best firefighting team in the Air Force ready for anything that might come their way.