Dyess firefighters help local, state fire departments

WEST TEXAS - Dyess firefighters responded to a call for all available personnel and equipment during a 4,000 acre fire 25 miles west of Dyess Air Force Base, Feb. 26. More than 15 local and state agencies along with 11 Dyess fire fighters helped fight the wood land fire. Due to the successful response of the combined fire forces no homes were destroyed. (Courtesy photo)

Dyess firefighters help local, state fire departments

Dyess firefighters respond to 4,000 acre wildfire

Published March 2, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Joel Mease
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (ACCNS) -- The Dyess Fire Department responded with fire trucks and personnel to a near 4,000 acre wildfire Feb. 26 just 25 miles west of here.

More than 15 local and state agencies including Dyess responded to the massive wildfire. The fire was one of the largest fires the 11 fire fighters from Dyess who responded have ever had to deal with, said Mr. Reed Tate, 7th Civil Engineer Squadron.

A request was sent out for all available equipment and firefighters in the local area. Dyess responded as part of its mutual aid agreement with the local area, Mr. Tate said.

"It was by far the largest fire I ever dealt with, and I was the fire chief for Tye for eight years," Mr. Tate said.

Among the jobs the department was tasked with was protecting windmills and filling fire vehicles. Part of the crew was also assigned to protect structures and provide fire protection to Texas Forces Service bulldozers working fire lines.

While the fire did not burn down any homes, it had the potential to be devastating to several Big Country families.

"One of our jobs was to help prevent the fire from jumping Highway 89," Mr. Tate said. "If the fire had jumped the highway it would have had (approximately) 40 straight miles of unobstructed path for it to burn."

Besides the fire being massive, firefighters had to deal with other obstacles as well that most Airmen in the fire department were not use to.

"They had to deal with a lot of obstacles with wind, hills and canyons," said Mr. Tate. "While they weren't necessarily used to those types of conditions, they did an outstanding job. It also gave them valuable experience considering wild land fires are becoming more prevalent."

The fire also gave the department an opportunity to use its recently bought brush truck, which is designed to help fight woodland fires.

In all, the Dyess Fire Department used more than 11,000 gallons of water and 67 man hours over the weekend to help fight the fire.

"We are more than ready to help the local area again if needed and it meets the requirements for our mutual aid agreement," Mr. Tate said.