Courtesy Photo | 104th Fighter Wing Fire Chief Travis Raby, center, speaks about mutual aid while being...... read more read more
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BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, WESTFIELD, Mass. - Mutual aid is more than an agreement between neighboring fire departments, it is a commitment to teamwork, coordination and readiness when emergencies happen.
For the 104th Fighter Wing Fire Department, mutual aid means responding alongside neighboring departments when additional personnel or specialized capabilities are needed. Firefighters routinely serve as a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT), assist with fire suppression, conduct search operations, provide ventilation, support firefighter rehabilitation and maintain personnel accountability. Their presence helps departments meet firefighter safety standards while ensuring enough staffing to sustain operations during prolonged incidents.
Travis Raby, fire chief for the 104th Fighter Wing, has spent more than three decades serving both the military and his local community. He joined the Air National Guard in 1993, became a civilian firefighter with the 104th in 1994 and was named fire chief in 2013.
While the wing has always maintained strong community partnerships through volunteer service and outreach, emergency response has become an increasingly important part of its mission.
"The Guard is known for being ready, relevant and reliable, so the community counts on us to support them," Raby said.
When Raby became fire chief, he recognized an opportunity to strengthen relationships with neighboring fire departments while maintaining the department's ability to support the wing's mission.
"Our mutual aid partnerships weren't as strong as they could have been or should have been," said Raby.
Raby stated that the first step was attending monthly mutual aid meetings in Westfield. Now they have signed mutual aid agreements with 26 partner agencies throughout Hampden County, the first formal agreements in the department's history.
"We regularly respond to Southampton and Westfield, and we're now a first-call department for Easthampton, which is new for us," Raby said. "As soon as they have a confirmed fire, we go.”
Easthampton Fire Chief Christopher Norris, who has been with the department for 25 years, said no single department has the resources to manage every emergency alone.
"The ability to call upon highly trained neighboring departments significantly enhances firefighter safety and our ability to serve the public," said Norris.
Norris continued to state that Barnes Air National Guard Fire Department has become one of their most trusted mutual aid partners, consistently providing highly trained personnel, specialized equipment and professional leadership during emergency incidents. He feels that their willingness to respond whenever requested strengthens the operational capabilities and gives the firefighters confidence that additional experienced resources are on the way when incidents escalate.
"Their consistency, preparedness and familiarity with our operations have made them an invaluable asset on emergency scenes," Norris said. "Their personnel integrate seamlessly into our Incident Command System and work alongside our members as if they were part of our own department."
The 104th department is also responding more frequently to calls in Holyoke. While firefighters sometimes respond directly to emergency scenes, they are often assigned to backfill local fire stations while municipal crews remain committed to large incidents.
"They're out fighting the big fires," Raby said. "We're sitting in their fire station, ready to respond if another emergency comes in.”
Capt. Dave Rex, training officer for the Holyoke Fire Department, also stressed that mutual aid agreements are critical to protecting area communities. "We are able to bring more resources to bear for whatever emergency we may be responding to."
Mutual aid requests arrive nearly every week. The department responds to incidents requiring Rapid Intervention Team coverage, stand by with rescue equipment and rope systems in case firefighters become trapped or injured, assists with fire extension searches, establishes water supplies and supports defensive fire operations.
Westfield Fire Chief Eric Bishop, who has served with the department for 25 years, said maintaining a strong relationship with the 104th Fighter Wing is essential.
"I routinely call the 104th Fire Department, especially when it comes down to the Rapid Intervention Team," Bishop said. "They are the right resources available as quickly as possible."
One example came during a multi-alarm apartment fire in Westfield in 2023 that caused extensive damage. The 104th Fighter Wing Fire Department initially responded as the Rapid Intervention Team but quickly transitioned to establishing a water supply as conditions changed.
Bishop, who served as deputy on scene, said the firefighters adapted immediately.
"They knew what to do and were in the right place at the right time with zero issues," said Bishop. "They were an essential part of helping us."
For Raby, those partnerships have transformed the role of the 104th Fighter Wing Fire Department beyond the installation's gates. By building trust with neighboring departments, the firefighters at Barnes have become an integral part of the region's emergency response network while remaining ready to support the wing's federal and state missions.
"We have fantastic mutual aid relationships now," Raby said.
| Date Taken: | 08.06.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.07.2026 11:39 |
| Story ID: | 571815 |
| Location: | WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 104th Fighter Wing Mutual aid: A resource communities depend on, by Melanie Casineau, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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