AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate praises 88th Air Base Wing Fire Department's quick actions

  • Published
  • By Holly Jordan
  • AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Mr. Thomas Lockhart, Director of the AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, honored personnel from the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Fire Department on April 12 for their quick response to a flooding event at directorate facilities in February.

Lockhart acknowledged representatives from Engines 31 and 32 as well as District Chief Kevin Narad and Inspector Garth Musgrove at the most recent Director's call, while the entire directorate thanked the department for their timely response and quick action.  Personally recognizing them for saving directorate money and resources, Lockhart presented the responders with letters of appreciation and Director's coins.

On February 12, 2016 frigid temperatures caused a sprinkler line in the facility to freeze and then burst upon thawing.  This event triggered an alarm, to which the fire department responded within minutes, quickly stopping water flow, preventing further damage, and restoring the building to a safe condition.  88th ABW Wright-Patterson Civil Engineering was then able to work with the directorate facilities office to clean and repair the damage and return the building to normal operation within days.

"We owe a great debt of gratitude to the 88th ABW Wright-Patt Fire Department.  Their quick action saved valuable resources and prevented extensive downtime and relocation of personnel," Lockhart said.  "We're fortunate to have such a skilled group of professionals serving as our wingmen on a day-to-day basis."

Lockhart noted that the department's quick action limited the cost of building repairs to under $10,000, substantially below initial estimates, and saved $100,000 in equipment and experiments.