Courtesy Photo | The 530th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion is ensuring the continued construction...... read more read more
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BALKH PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The 530th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion has not been in country two months, but is already preparing to establish its own enduring footprint in Regional Command-North.
Following in the footsteps of the 87th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, the 530th CSSB has the task of continuing the expansion and construction projects at Forward Operating Base Deh Dadi II.
The battalion, based out of Fort Lee, Va., is assigned to the 101st Sustainment Brigade during their deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Among the key projects includes fire safety; specifically, plans to stand up a fire station and an eight-man fire team on the FOB sometime this summer. They’re also looking at bringing in a fire truck as well.
The mayor recently met with Air Force fire prevention officials to perform an assessment of the FOB’s fire safety standards, and to discuss the feasibility of establishing a fire department on the FOB.
“Right now, DDII doesn’t really have any subject matter experts on fire safety and fire prevention assigned here,” said 1st Lt. Robert Schnabel, FOB DDII Mayor’s cell officer in charge. “We have several personnel throughout the unit designated as fire teams in case something happens, but there’s no actual fire department.”
“Given the assessment that they’ve given us, it looks very possible and we’ll start moving forward on that.”
Schnabel said they are in the initial stages of planning for the fire department, but they want to have everything in place by June. He also said there will have to be a design phase and cost analysis done in order to get everything in place.
“A lot of that has to do with space and size of the FOB, as well as the enduring mission,” he said.
Charlie O’Bryant, brigade safety officer, said the battalion is headed in the right direction in terms of fire safety and prevention.
“They’re taking baby steps to ensure that everything they’re doing is completed before starting the next project,” he said.
O’Bryant also said the need for a fire department on the FOB is important, given its continued expansion.
“It is required for a FOB to have a fire department and vehicle. It is greatly needed there,” he said.
The fire marshals also addressed concerns about the service member’s living conditions, citing the one door only exit.
“It needs to have two exit doors, one on each end to allow them to get to safety,” O’Bryant said. “It also needs space enough for the fire vehicles to get to where they need to.”
The brigade safety officer, however, did say they needed to address the issues of properly using burn barrels on the FOB.
“You have to ensure that there’s no paper sticking out and that the wind is not very high,” he said. “I’ve given the safety officer a safety alert on the servicemembers can use them the right way.”
Schnabel said they are looking to purchase an intercom system to use to alert the FOB of a fire. In the meantime, they will be using triangle bells in its place.
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2011 09:56 |
| Story ID: | 68401 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 234 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 530th CSSB eyes fire safety at DDII, by MSG Peter Mayes, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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