Base, local emergency services participate in joint exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  A Natural Disaster Exercise held May 20 called for Otero County emergency services and members of Team Holloman to work together to mitigate a simulated emergency as they would during a real-world scenario.

The joint exercise was the first natural disaster scenario at Holloman involving a fire on both state and federal government property.

"We staged a lightning-caused wildfire and the purpose of that was to create a situation for a joint response between Holloman and Otero County," said Wayne Paddock, 49th Fighter Wing Plans and Inspections exercise evaluation team chief.

In the scenario, a grass wildfire began on state property, and the Otero County Sherriff's Department dispatched volunteer fire units from Alamo West and Boles Acres fire departments.

As the fire traveled north, the county units called upon Holloman Fire and Emergency Service personnel to provide additional fire assets. A county Emergency Operations Center was activated, and as the fire began affecting the base, Holloman's EOC stood up and maintained direct communication with county officials.

"The coordination of assets was done EOC to EOC, and that was one of the primary objectives of this exercise," said Mr. Paddock. "That's what most of the exercise was -- what actually happened in the field was quite a bit smaller than a normal [major accident response exercise]."

Although there was no real fire, volunteer, county and base firefighters responded quickly with the necessary equipment, leaving a positive impression on exercise officials.

"Kudos to the folks who responded from Alamo West and Boles Acres. We got a lot bigger response than we thought we'd get, and on their end they did a really good job," said Mr. Paddock. "They were well-versed on how to deal with situation like this."

The Otero County emergency services director, who had a hand in planning and running the exercise, said this type of joint coordination is helpful in showcasing what each agency has to offer.

"These exercises are definitely a tool we can use to show how each of us operate and what resources are available whether it be on base or off base," said Paul Quairoli, Otero County emergency services director.

He added that he plans to continue participating in joint exercises with the base to ensure the preparedness of emergency services, both military and non-military, to provide public safety.

"The primary goal I think is really the public safety," said Mr. Quairoli. "That doesn't always have to have a boundary or a political affiliation, but the protection of those citizens -- whether active-duty or not -- should be the most important thing."