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Garrison command teams take on firefighting

By Marie PihulicOctober 8, 2020

Col. Rhett Taylor, Fort Sill Garrison commander, extinguishes a fire Oct. 2, 2020, alongside Command Sgt. Maj. Russell Blackwell, Garrison CSM. Both described the science and technique firefighters use to put out a fire as impressive.
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Rhett Taylor, Fort Sill Garrison commander, extinguishes a fire Oct. 2, 2020, alongside Command Sgt. Maj. Russell Blackwell, Garrison CSM. Both described the science and technique firefighters use to put out a fire as impressive.

(Photo Credit: Marie Pihulic) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Sill Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Russell Blackwell, suits up to learn the quick ins and outs of putting out a structure fire. Taylor said it gives the team a better
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fort Sill Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Russell Blackwell, suits up to learn the quick ins and outs of putting out a structure fire. Taylor said it gives the team a better (Photo Credit: Marie Pihulic) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sgt. Maj. Viridiana Lavalle, provost sergeant major, dons a firefighter suit Oct. 2, 2020, as part of fires cross-training.
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Maj. Viridiana Lavalle, provost sergeant major, dons a firefighter suit Oct. 2, 2020, as part of fires cross-training. (Photo Credit: Marie Pihulic) VIEW ORIGINAL
Col. Rhett Taylor, Fort Sill Garrison commander, said the hands-on training gives a better understanding of what Directorate of Emergency Services firefighters face on a daily basis to protect the post and those who inhabit it.
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Rhett Taylor, Fort Sill Garrison commander, said the hands-on training gives a better understanding of what Directorate of Emergency Services firefighters face on a daily basis to protect the post and those who inhabit it. (Photo Credit: Marie Pihulic) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Sill firefighters set up at the Brian K. Langford Training Tower Oct. 2, 2020, to perform annual vertical structure fire certification. They also assisted the Fort Sill Garrison and Directorate of Emergency Services command teams in going through the structure safely.
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fort Sill firefighters set up at the Brian K. Langford Training Tower Oct. 2, 2020, to perform annual vertical structure fire certification. They also assisted the Fort Sill Garrison and Directorate of Emergency Services command teams in going through the structure safely. (Photo Credit: Marie Pihulic) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla., Oct. 8, 2020 -- Fire Prevention Week started off with leader participation as the Fort Sill Garrison and Provost Marshal command teams suited up, and got an intense glimpse into how firefighters put out structure fires.

Col. Rhett Taylor, garrison commander, said when he heard the Fire and Emergency Services Division was doing live fire training his Redleg ears perked up. Although this did not include artillery, he wanted to learn how firefighters protect the Soldiers and family members on Fort Sill.

Adhering to Fires Fifty Axiom No. 39, “Leadership is a contact sport; it requires daily interaction,” Taylor said, “If I have teammates who are going through burning buildings, then I need to experience that to understand what they go through.”

Several emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and expert firefighters were on-site at the Brian K. Langford Training Tower to ensure a safe controlled training environment.

“This is all about safety. If you hear ‘safety, safety, safety’ and we start blasting air horns, everybody exit the building in a timely fashion,” Station Chief Scott Robinson briefed the five leaders.

Weighted down, but fired up, Taylor, Command Sgt. Maj. Russell Blackwell, Fort Sill Garrison CSM;  Maj. Brenda Beegle, provost marshal; Sgt. Maj. Viridiana Lavalle, provost sergeant major; and Fred Makinney, Directorate of Emergency Services director, entered the tower to the challenge of putting out a fire.

They took turns aiming the fire hose against the flames where the experts told them to, and pulled the nozzle using the different extinguishing patterns they just learned.

“Whoever has the opportunity ought to do that with their local firefighters to really grasp an understanding of what is going on when they enter into somebody’s home or business … and the amount of scientific and technical expertise that goes on in there,” said Blackwell.

The training tower is versatile and allows the firefighters to practice climbing a vertical structure,  getting out of confined spaces, and even rappelling.

“If you can think of anything a firefighter can be certified on across the country, the firefighters here, the [Department of Defense] firefighters, are certified on it. If it’s a certification for wildfires, they have to be certified on it. If it’s a certification for a plane crash, they’re certified on it,” said Blackwell.

“We train nonstop to make sure we are prepared to provide our community the best service possible,” said Bobby Klein Jr., assistant chief of operations.

Klein said those who live and work on Fort Sill can help by preventing a fire in their home as part of Fire Prevention Week’s theme of kitchen safety.

“People’s everyday lives, they’re busy. And sometimes safety in your own house is overlooked. It’s just a simple reminder to keep everyone on your toes and maybe check your hood system or smoke alarm to make sure it’s still working,” said Klein.

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