Photo By Cpl. Tyler Barstow | Cpl. Anthony D. Rodriguez, from Lubbock, Texas, an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Cpl. Tyler B. Barstow
1st Marine Logistics Group
CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq – Marines and Sailors gathered around the burning Southwest Asia hut, but instead of feeling the scorching pain of disdain, they felt the warm blaze of education.
The burning of the building was a project coordinated by Base Safety and Environmental, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and the Marines of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Company of Marine Wing Support Squadron 374, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The project demonstrated the threats the buildings pose when exposed to fire in the desert conditions and the rapidity in which they can become engulfed in flames.
"The reason we burned this SWA hut down was in the name of fire safety and fire prevention," said Gunnery Sgt. Mark E. Dumdie, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of ARFF, MWSS-374. "It makes (service members) aware of how quick these things can go up," said the 38-year-old from Fort Hood, Texas.
Everyone was impressed with the veracity in which the flames tore down the building in less than 15 minutes.
Leaving behind a mass of charred beams and metal sheets from the roof, the remains of the once inhabitable structure displayed a warning sign for all to see.
Dumdie explained to the visitors the problems SWA huts pose after they have been left in the desert conditions. From old dry wood to exposed wiring, Dumdie touched on several factors that pose fire safety hazards.
"The air conditioners and lights can be overworked, which leads to power surging," he said.
The demonstration was educational to the commanders who viewed the blaze.
"It's a big value for training for the service members out here," said Lance Robinson, the Base Safety and Environmental officer for 1st MLG.
Tapping into the duty experts provided a wealth of knowledge for the Marines at Base Safety and Environmental.
"It puts common sense and it puts knowledge from Marines who do what they do best straight to the Marines on the ground," said the 36-year-old from Athena, Ore.
Most of the SWA huts on Camp Taqaddum have been sprayed with a fire-retardant foam to help contain fires that may start. It also helps insulate the buildings, which will help take the electrical strain off of air conditioners and other appliances often overworked in the Iraqi landscape.
| Date Taken: | 08.30.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.03.2008 01:50 |
| Story ID: | 23145 |
| Location: | AL TAQADDUM, IQ |
| Web Views: | 282 |
| Downloads: | 232 |
This work, 1st Marine Logistics Group burns down Southwest Asia hut for education, by Cpl Tyler Barstow, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
