Kunsan firefighters assist local fire department

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Araceli Alarcon
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea --  Firefighters from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron assisted local fire departments in response to an industrial fire in Gunsan City here Dec. 3.

At approximately 9 a.m. the Kunsan Air Base fire department received a call and quickly dispatched 11 personnel and two fire trucks to help local Gunsan City firefighters. With the additional support and local resources, they averted a greater loss, according to base fire department officials.

"We have a mutual aid agreement with the surrounding fire departments, for cases such as when a fire is so large that either they (Gunsan City) or we need additional resources to battle the blaze," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Rosenbaum, 8th CES.

"We needed additional support since the fire occurred at a chemical company in our industrial area of Gunsan City. So we called for assistance by the Kunsan Air Base Fire Department. It was truly a combined joint effort between Gunsan City and the air base's fire fighters," said Mr. Choi, Jong Geun, Fire Department Chief of Gunsan City.

Sergeant Rosenbaum agreed that team work was a key element in diminishing the fire.

"It felt great to be able to help and strengthen our ties with the surrounding fire departments," Sergeant Rosenbaum stated. "They were very appreciative of us and how quickly we were able to assist in the control and extinguishment to the massive industrial blaze."

Combined, nearly 300 firefighters and 20 fire trucks responded to the call. It took about six to seven hours to diminish the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.