Spc. Alexandra Hansen, a Belle Fourche, S.D., native, who works as an intelligence analyst with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, sprays the compressed air pump system during an incipient f...

Doug Hanson, an incipient firefighting instructor with Task Force Power, talks to soldiers from 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, about fire hazards around Camp Nathan Smith, Afghanistan, June 5. Hanson has been in Afghanistan f...

Pvt. Lakaya Brown, a Tallahassee, Fla., native, who works as a supply clerk with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, along with other Lancer soldiers, prepare to put out an incipient fire dur...

Cpl. James Grigsby, a Corana, Calif., native, who works as a civil affairs specialist with 426 Civil Affairs (Airborne) Battalion, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and Spc. Alexandra Hansen, a Belle Fourche, S.D., native, who wo...

Cpl. William Lamm, a Wilson, N.C., native, who works as a supply non-commissioned officer with 8th Squadron, 1st Calvary Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Lancers, directs soldiers during an incipient fire exercise on ...

Soldiers with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division react to an incipient fire during a training exercise on Camp Nathan Smith, Afghanistan June 6. Soldiers who complete the course act as first responders to fires that can occur ...

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Soldiers with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, also known as Lancer Brigade, can rest easy on Camp Nathan Smith, Afghanistan, due to the efforts of a few who stand ready to respond to fires that can occur around the camp.

Instructors with Task Force Power came to Camp Nathan Smith for a three-day course to train volunteers who will act as first responders to incipient fires, or fires in the beginning stages, in an effort to prevent soldiers and civilians from being injured in the event of a fire.

"The purpose of the industrial fire brigade is to bring the soldiers up to a level of training where they can fight incipient fires or provide defense fire fighting actions," said Doug Hanson, an instructor who represents Task Force Power here in Afghanistan. "We cover items like incident command, hazard recognition, loss prevention, and of course, hands on firefighting use of the compressed air pump system."

The compressed air pump system has already been used throughout Afghanistan to fight fires before they spread.

"The compressed air pump system is a proven method of firefighting," said Hanson. "We