Ellsworth Annual Training Includes SD and NE National Guards

   On June 9, large smoke plumes engulfed the air surrounding the west side of Ellsworth Air Force Base. It wasn’t a real emergency. 

   The smoke was part of the Ellsworth Fire Department’s annual fire training which included both the South Dakota and Nebraska National Guard.

   “This is exciting, challenging and real-world training that the soldiers enjoy doing and this is what prepares us best for when real world fire emergencies take place,” said the commanding officer for the Nebraska Army National Guard firefighter teams, Andrew Walton.

   Approximately 30 firefighters from the guard were put through a downed aircraft fire simulation.

   “This is especially useful when you have a large fire that you can’t really approach very well on foot,” said the lead firefighter for the South Dakota Army National Guard, Clayton Spencer. “So, you kind of knock it down a little bit, and then you’re able to get a little bit closer and then pull the hand lines off. And then you can do some more work once you get off.”

   On windy days like Monday, Spencer said the wind can pose as a challenge, but it can also be used as a tool. “In this case, we fight upwind of the fire, and it helps us push the fire to a certain spot, then you can target it better,” said Spencer.

   “We’ve got a bunch fuel spilled in there, and then we always try to push it away from the civilians’ escape route,” said a firefighter for the Nebraska National Guard, Laura Dietz. “So, we’d go from the front of the plane, pushing it to the back, using the wind kind to our advantage.”

   Walton said this is the first time both the South Dakota and Nebraska National Guard fire teams have collaborated here on base. “It’s allowed us to work alongside the South Dakota firefighter teams, get to know them and build that connection as well,” said Walton.

   Through the training, Walton wants to ensure soldiers can evaluate a fire scene and communicate effectively and are familiar with the materials and equipment they’re working with.

   The Ellsworth Air Force Base live fire training ran from Saturday through Monday.