Civil Engineer notices smoke through trees, aids in saving lives

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nora Anton
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  It was nothing out of the ordinary the morning of Aug. 7, as Staff Sgt. Michael Huntington drove himself to work. It was a normal dreary morning in the Interior with low-laying clouds and drizzles, but something didn't seem quite right.

The keen observance and quick actions of the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron NCO in charge of emergency management training deemed beneficial as he pulled off his normal route some 50 yards into the woods and discovered a shed engulfed in flames that was beginning to burn a home.

"I almost didn't catch it at all," said Sergeant Huntington, "But I have trained my eyes to look for anything out of the ordinary so when I do see something that doesn't seem quite right, I take a closer look."

Instead of assuming emergency help was on the way, Sergeant Huntington quickly turned thoughts into action.

"I've learned to never make assumptions," he said. "I have seen a lot of things go wrong and not get corrected until it is too late because somebody said 'someone else probably has it taken care of.'"

As soon as he arrived, he said he assessed the situation to determine whether lives were being threatened; although another individual had arrived along with Sergeant Huntington, neither had a cell phone to call emergency services. He flagged down the next passing vehicle to use a cell phone--enabling the other individual to evacuate the two occupants inside the residence.

Once Sergeant Huntington had the 911 dispatcher on the phone, he discovered that a short distance down the driveway another building was beginning to catch fire, this time a mobile home, whose residents were beginning to evacuate.

After he made sure no injuries needed to be tended to, he waited at the end of the drive way until the ambulance and fire department arrived, helping flag them down and guide them in.

As NCOIC of emergency management training, Sergeant Huntington has CPR and self-aid and buddy care training, along with most other servicemen and women, which would have covered injuries of the residents, if something were to go horribly wrong.

Lt. Hunter McConnel, North Star Volunteer Fire Department shift officer, who drove the first fire engine from the NSVFD, said Sergeant Huntington's actions saved lives and lessened damage.

"Had he not gotten there early enough, the house might have caught fire completely and caused more damage--and potentially harmed the home's residents," he said.