Malmstrom's fire department earns Air Force level honor

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Emerald Ralston
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The 341st Civil Engineer Squadron's fire department was recently named the 2007 Small Fire Department of the Year at Air Force level. 

Customer service, innovation, management initiatives and quality of life contributed to their win. 

"I think winning fire department of the year at the Air Force level is a great accomplishment," said Daniel Dodson, deputy fire chief. "The firefighters had a number of very diverse incidents and they handled every one of them professionally and without hesitation. I feel great pride in their efforts, knowing that when someone is having a bad day, we can be counted on to deliver assistance and deliver it well." 

Among the diverse incidents the fire department responded to were the crash of the Canadian Snowbirds aircraft during the 2007 open house, extracting a car crash victim who was pinned beneath a vehicle, supported off-base response to a suspected weapon of mass destruction, and responded to and treated a suicidal individual. All of these efforts were part of the 514 incidents the fire department responded to last year.
Innovation and quality management initiatives also played a big part in securing the award for Malmstrom's fire department. 

After discovering the cause of a vehicle fire, the fire department developed new vehicle inspection requirements. They also acquired radiation and chemical agent detectors, providing instantaneous WMD detection during emergencies. The fire prevention program also played a big part in winning the award. 

"The fire prevention program we have developed for our community and base population has gotten great support," said John Gilmore, assistant fire chief. "Our support comes from commanders of each unit, supervisors, Airmen and family members. To have them recognize that fire prevention is important and they support the program, you can't go wrong. Being recognized by your command more than once that Malmstrom has the best prevention and safety program in the command has helped this department achieve this honor. The program could not work as well if the firefighters didn't receive credit was well. They support our ongoing programs everyday and that helps make this program a success." 

Malmstrom's fire department has never been recognized for this award at Air Force level, but did win at Air Force Space Command level in 2005. 

"I believe this award validates the total team effort and we would not have won without the sustained efforts of all our firefighters," Mr. Dodson said.