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‘We fight what you fear’
By Graham Davis
Volume 50, No. 14, August 09, 2007 |
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ELITE: SMN Tim Clowney, 21 of Virginia Beach, a member of USS Kitty Hawk’s “Crash and Salvage” fire brigade, wears a protective fire suit as he stands ready on the flight deck. Behind him is one of the ship’s three fire pumpers and some of the squad’s rescue and breathing apparatus equipment.
Photo: LAC Alan Bencke. |
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It is the credo of an elite group of people … “We Fight What You Fear.” That fear is fire.
The elite people are the 30 member “fire brigade” of the USS Kitty Hawk, the aircraft
carrier which visited Sydney and Brisbane recently and took part in Exercise Talisman Saber.
When you have to protect 5500 officers and sailors, and 75 aircraft let alone a 81,000 tonne warship you have to have a well-trained and equipped brigade.
On duty around the clock, of course, the squad has three pumpers (fire engines). Two of them are positioned on the flight deck, another below. Because of their low-profile construction they can get into some tight spaces when required. Not only that, they carry 280 litres of triple F foam and 3500 litres of water. The pumps carried on the appliances can provide over 2000 litres of foam/water mix per minute.
Special firefighting suits are carried as well as an array of cutting and rescue tools. |
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