JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Simply put, were it not for the base fire training facility at Joint Base Andrews, the Washington D.C. Fire Department would have a few fewer 'recruits turned firefighters' to fight its blazes in the city.
"Our facility is currently under construction and the Andrews Fire Department and base commander have allowed us to utilize their fire training facility to get our recruits the training that's required," explained John V. Pignataro, District of Columbia Fire Department Training Academy fire lieutenant.
"Prior to graduation from recruit training school, they have numerous live firefighting evolutions, or training, that needs to be completed - including, roughly, four to five times of training sessions at every position, including manning the truck and the hose line to put the hose out, stretching the hose line and going into the facility to fight the fire and providing back up."
Last week marked the first time the DCFD has utilized the Class A Burn Facility located on the east side of the base. Twenty recruits and 16 instructors participated in the training.
"There are currently three classes in session at the academy," said Master Sgt. Phillip Winkelmann, Andrews Fire Emergency Services assistant chief of training. "Without the live burns, the DCFD recruits cannot graduate. This would hamper not only the DCFD recruits, but the fire department as a whole, especially since the DCFD would not be able to get field trained and certified firefighters during critical manning shortages. Andrews stepped forward as the only operational facility within 500 miles to help our community partner meet their goals."
Sergeant Winkelmann said most Team Andrews' members do not know the high-quality facility that exists on base.
"We have one of the best fire training facilities located at any Department of Defense fire department and our facility rivals that of most community fire training facilities and those at training academies," Sergeant Winkelmann said. "We are able to conduct any type of training scenario or evolution to prepare - not only our firefighters - but local communities and other DoD departments. The training facilities at Andrews are state-of-the-art and we are honored to be able to share those with local fire department and conduct joint training to better prepare for emergencies - not only at our home station, but downrange, as well."
"We really appreciate the opportunity to be able to work with the Andrews' Fire Department, and the cooperation from the base commander - it's a nice partnership," Lieutenant Pignataro said.