Saving lives together: Philippines Bureau of Fire Protection trains with DTRA, Colorado first responders

Photo By Capt. Chelsi Johnson | Members from the Philippines Bureau of Fire Protection Special Rescue Unit (BFP SRU) and the Fountain Fire Department (FFD) assist in removing the protective gear from the Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) initial response team as part of the decontamination (DECON) team during a training exercise in Fountain, Colorado, February 14. The exercise is the culmination of a two-week Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive (CBRNE) training the BFP SRU received from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s CBRNE Preparedness Program (CP2). During the exercise, the BFP SRU team worked side by side with the FFD to respond to and counter the effects of a simulated homemade explosives laboratory. DTRA’s CP2 program helps to train and equip military and civilian first-responders to deal with worst-case scenarios. (Department of Defense photo by Chelsi Johnson)  

FOUNTAIN, CO, UNITED STATES

02.20.2019

Story by Chelsi Johnson 

Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Fountain, Colo. – First responders from the Philippines’ Bureau of Fire Protection Special Rescue Unit received specialized training on response capabilities from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive (CBRNE) Preparedness Program (CP2) in Fountain, Colo., Feb. 4-15, 2019.

The Bureau of Fire Protection Special Rescue Unit, with units in Makati, Cebu, and Davao, sent 28 members to the training, which focused on enhancing medical and hazardous materials response skills through lecture and hands-on training provided by DTRA’s CP2 program.

“The Philippines is continuously threatened by extremists, and other disasters. The Bureau of Fire Protection is the front-runner of the national government to respond to these events,” said Philippines Chief Superintendent Jeremy Diaz, director for plans Bureau of Fire Protection National Headquarters. “The Defense Threat Reduction Agency provides necessary training to the Bureau of Fire Protection Special Rescue Unit to enhance our capabilities and skills in response to weapons of mass destruction incidents.”

One critical aspect of DTRA’s CP2 mission is supporting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command through targeted CBRNE preparedness training and assistance to partner nations. The CP2 program helps train and equip military and civilian first responders to deal with worst-case scenarios, sharpening their ability to react to and mitigate CBRNE dangers in their home country.

“Through engagements like this, the CBRNE Preparedness Program can assist, improve and develop the CBRNE disaster preparedness capabilities of our partner nations,” said U.S. Army Colonel Kevin Damon, Director of Building Partner Capacity, Defense Threat Reduction Agency. “CP2 addresses local capabilities and resources by assisting nations, like the Philippines, plan and prepare before a disaster incident.”

The two-week course culminated with a field training exercise, where the Philippine BFP SRU team worked side by side the Fountain Fire Department, responding and countering the effects of a simulated homemade explosives laboratory.

“This was a priceless experience for my team to participate in,” said Interim Fire Chief Michael Orr, Fountain Fire Department and HAZMAT team lead. “To be able to work alongside this team [BFP SRU], in response to a HAZMAT incident, and to see the effectiveness of the training, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I won’t forget.”

The critical capabilities gained during the training help partner nations not only protect their homeland, but also contribute to improved national, regional and global interoperability and cooperation.

“There are only a handful of members that completed this training, but this knowledge will multiply a thousand times when returning to our country,” said Diaz. “The skills and knowledge that we have acquired here are only possible through this program. The Bureau of Fire Protection, as well as the Philippine Government, is grateful for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.”

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DTRA enables the Department of Defense, the U.S. Government, and international partners to counter and deter Weapons of Mass Destruction and Improvised Threat Networks. DTRA's CP2 department is the DoD's lead program for developing foreign partners capacity to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from CBRNE/WMD incidents.

• Date Taken: 02.20.2019
• Date Posted: 02.20.2019 16:34
• Story ID: 311303
• Location: FOUNTAIN, CO, US