Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Connecticut Air Guard fire department trains with partners By Master Sgt. Tamara Dabney,
                103rd Airlift Wing, Public Affairs, Bradley Air National Guard Base
 EAST GRANBY, Conn. – The Connecticut Air National Guard Fire Department is collaborating with mutual aid partners to conduct familiarization training exercises at Bradley Air National Guard Base. The goal is to incorporate resources from various fire departments into the Connecticut Air Guard’s incident command system, speeding response times and improving collaboration between area fire departments in light of staff shortages. The training focuses on using aerial ladder devices, which maximize vertical reach during rapid response, ventilation, extinguishment and rescue operations. In some cases, the devices have elevated waterways used to apply water to high areas. “This [training] familiarizes our mutual aid partners with the base layout and gives their [fire truck] drivers a chance to survey the areas so that, if they do come out to the base for an incident, they’d be better prepared to set up the aerial devices,” said Chief Master Sgt. Robert Cross, Connecticut Air National Guard installation fire chief. “For the past year, we’ve been working with mutual aid partners to determine what mutual aid resources are actually coming in to assist, should an incident occur here.” If an emergency were to occur at Bradley, dispatch centers would alert fire departments using run cards, which are listings that prioritize the closest and most practical fire department resources. The computer-automated dispatch [CAD] system has streamlined the dispatch process and enhanced mutual aid capabilities for the CTANG Fire Department. “Once we switched dispatch centers in July 2021, we were able to switch to a newer CAD-based run card system,” said Cross. “If a 911 caller calls into a dispatch center and says it’s smoking in the facility, [the CAD system] starts that run card for the resources that are required for that type of incident. They automatically would be dispatching these units without us having to call four or five different departments in order to meet the levels of service that’s required by the Department of Defense and the Air Force.” Steve Bianchi, assistant chief of the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department, said region-wide training and cooperation between departments is necessary for effective mutual aid operations. “This is the beginning of a regionalization of the fire departments,” said Bianchi. “For me, it’s all about working with our neighbors and getting to know our neighbors, so when we have mutual aid, everybody is familiar with the operation. We’re breaking down the barriers. It’s the common sense approach to getting the water on the fire and saving lives.” With regionalization, proximity to an emergency incident and available resources will take precedence over jurisdiction when determining which fire departments to dispatch. “The old philosophy was, it’s our jurisdiction, we’ll take care of it,” said Jim Griskewicz, deputy chief of the Windsor Fire Department. “Nowadays, we’re so short on staffing, we can’t do it by ourselves anymore. Why wouldn’t we call [another fire department] if they’re closer, or have them on the run card?” Bianchi agreed. “The volunteerism throughout the country is at an all-time low,” said Bianchi. “So for us, it’s all about getting the regionalization up and running. It doesn’t matter which fire department from which town goes into someone else’s town. The end goal is that they all work fluidly. It’s for people’s safety and for the good of the departments. I’m excited to be here and be a part of this.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Connecticut Air National Guard
 firefighting
 
 Connecticut Air Guard Unit Tests Battle Management System
 By Sgt. Matthew Lucibello,
  Vermont Airmen Test Agility During Multistate Exercise
 By Tech. Sgt. Richard Mekkri,
  Connecticut Guard Completes Mission Systems Operator Conversion
 By Sgt. Matthew Lucibello,
  More
 New England Civil Engineers Strengthen Skills During Training Exercise Guard News • 3 days ago
 Idaho Guardsmen Train with Canadian and Polish Allies Guard News • 3 days ago
 New York National Guard Headquarters Staff Marks Memorial Day Guard News • 4 days ago
 Tennessee Guard, Local Partners Practice Disaster Response Guard News • 4 days ago
 Air Guard Units Test Readiness at Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • 5 days ago
 2024 (160)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil