Hanscom Fire Department named best in AFMC

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The 66th Civil Engineering Division Fire Emergency Services Flight here was recently named the Air Force Materiel Command Small Fire Department of the Year for 2015.

The Hanscom team will now compete against other departments from major commands in the same category at the Air Force level. Winners from that competition will then compete at the Department of Defense level.

"The annual DOD team awards program recognizes small and large fire departments, among other categories, for achieving the highest degree of excellence in mission support and fire protection management," said Bob Hildreth, Hanscom's fire chief.

According to the award criterion, several other factors are considered when selecting the best department in their respective categories.

"The award package focuses on several things including customer service, department-level awards, accreditation, firefighter health and wellness, as well as innovations or modernizations that raise the quality of life and service of DOD fire departments," Hildreth said.

The Air Force level winners will be announced at the International Department of Defense Fire Chief Conference later this year.

The chief said that while the size of the Hanscom-based fire department may place them in the small category, they "exceed large department expectations."

As an example, the fire chief discussed the mutual aid partnerships they have with local civilian departments.

"We have a robust mutual aid partnership with numerous local towns that resulted in more than 45 emergency responses in 2015 outside of Hanscom Air Force Base," he said. "In one example, our team assisted nearby Concord Fire in evacuating a senior center during a gas leak emergency."

Throughout the year, the team also earned a number of accreditations and certifications.

"Our team consistently exceeds DOD's performance standards through the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress," Hildreth said. He explained that IFSAC is a self-governing system of fire service certification programs and fire-related degree programs.

The chief also discussed the role the department has on improving safety awareness in the Hanscom community.

"As part of our community outreach effort, specially trained Hanscom firefighters provide parents a child safety seat inspection, as well as help with ensuring the child safety seat is properly installed," he said.

Other accomplishments the department was recognized for include a first-ever Emergency Management Service Awareness Day at the Hanscom Middle School.

"Hanscom firefighters trained students in a 'Hands Only CPR' class," the chief said. "Hopefully they'll never need it, but in the event they do, it could result in saving someone's life one day."

Hildreth said these are just a few examples that have resulted in the Hanscom AFB firefighters being selected as the best in AFMC and he looks forward to moving on in the annual awards program.

Since 2005, the Hanscom Fire and Emergency Services team has garnered the small fire department recognition at the AFMC-level nine times.