Travis firefighters help extinguish blaze Published June 11, 2008 By Nick DeCicco 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- When flames roared at nearby Ashland Chemical Plant, local city officials looked to Team Travis for help. The Fairfield Fire Department lacks the equipment to douse a chemical fire, so Travis firefighters, who are trained to fight everything from grease-fueled kitchen fires to hazardous material flames, were the ones to respond. The blaze, which started at 5:56 p.m. June 4, was the first major fire for Airman 1st Class Kyle Ash. "My adrenaline was running really high," he said. "I didn't realize how tired I was until after we got back. The adrenaline stopped running, and then I realized how exhausted I was." The fire raged for more than two hours before the Travis crew arrived on scene. In less than two minutes, the U.S. Air Force fire team snuffed a large percentage of the blaze. Mark Renucci, a rescue crew chief who battled the blaze while responding to questions from a local television station, said the team worked quickly. "Luckily, we were able to put the [firefighting] agent on there and get it knocked down quickly," he said. Also responding were units from Valero Oil Refinery, Fairfield, Vacaville and Benicia. Heightening the situation was Travis' use of a new, untested truck, referred to as Crash 18. Having arrived at Travis three weeks ago, the interior still has a "new car" smell. It was one of two vehicles dispatched to the scene. "We haven't even fought a test fire with it yet," Mr. Renucci said. Tech. Sgt. Erwin Lara said it was thrilling to use the turrets on the rig to douse a blaze for the first time. "It was just so much fun for me, being in [the Air Force] for quite a while, after working with a lot of older trucks, to use something a bit more modern," he said. "I was nervous at first." But Crash 18 wasn't the only technological tool used to fight the blaze. Mr. Renucci and a member of the Fairfield hazmat used an infrared camera to determine the level of chemicals in four standing tankers at the facility. Travis team members wore proximity suits, which are designed to withstand exceptional heat for the purpose of an aircraft fire. This allowed firefighters to get closer than a city firefighter could. Also, a Google aerial map of the Ashland facility was used to help Travis members familiarize themselves with the terrain before arriving on scene. The Travis crew used foam to fight the blaze. Because the chemicals involved were lighter than water, foam is necessary to squelch the spread of oxygen. Chemicals in the fire included ethyl acetate, toluene, xylene and 142 solvent, according to the Daily Republic. No injures were reported. Residents in a one-mile radius around the facility were initially ordered to stay indoors so authorities could determine the nature of the blaze. Travis' firefighters are responsible for fighting multiple types of fires because of the size and nature of the Travis community. The crew must be ready to respond to situations in airplanes, homes and more. Aircraft firefighting, structure fires, wildland blazes, petroleum/oil/lubricant situations, hazmat, confined-space rescue and emergency medical situations are all part of the Travis fire crew's roster of responsibilities. Most of the crew members who battled the blaze were congratulated Tuesday when two members of Ashland management visited the base to thank the firefighters for a job well done. Travis Fire Chief John Speakman, a retired Air Force member, said Travis was called in because of a mutual aid agreement between Solano County fire departments. "Everyone's out there to help everyone," he said. He was glad his crew could pitch in. "You don't hope for disaster, but when it happens, you appreciate when you can help out," he said.