Photo By Chuck Cannon | Fort Polk Fire inspectors and Post Exchange management honor Katrina Walker for her...... read more read more
FORT POLK, La. -- Members of Fort Polk’s Directorate of Emergency Services Fire Department gathered at the Main Post Exchange food court to honor an Army and Air Force Exchange Service employee who went through annual fire training and used the lessons learned to put out a real-world fire at the Qdoba restaurant.
Katrina Walker explained what happened.
“I was in my office doing paperwork when one of my associates came in and said they needed me. I was finishing up my job intending to see what they needed when I was done, but they told me it was a fire. I went to see what was going on and saw the fire extinguisher. Everyone was panicking a bit, but I remembered the fire training I took and sprayed the fire out. We walked away and the fire flared back up. I went back and sprayed the fire again, ensuring it was under control and called 911 to have the fire department look at it.”
Chad Estes, lead fire inspector, presented Walker with a certificate for her actions that day. “We’re here to honor Katrina Walker for her quick action in using the fire extinguisher to put out a cooking fire. Her actions saved the government money and ensured the restaurant remained open to serve our Soldiers and their Families. She also potentially saved lives, including the lives of the fire fighters who responded.”
Estes said fire safety training classes are held yearly during fire prevention week. He said Walker’s actions prove the training does build muscle memory that takes over during an emergency.
“It feels good. I’m proud. I’m just happy I was able to save the company money and make sure nobody was hurt,” said Walker. “I feel like I did my job.”
| Date Taken: | 03.06.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2020 14:20 |
| Story ID: | 364653 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 47 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Training pays off for AAFES employee, by TC Bradford, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
