SYRACUSE — Civilian firefighters now assigned to the Hancock Field Air National Guard Base will be offered reassignment to support the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh this summer.
That’s according to a news release the New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs issued Wednesday.
Four firefighters will be shifted to Stewart to work with the 105th Airlift Wing and Marine Aircraft Group 49, a Marine Corps Reserve unit, which fly C-17 and C-130 cargo aircraft around the clock, according to the release. The Stewart Air National Guard Base fire department also provides fire protection for Stewart International Airport.
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Pilots of the 174th Attack Wing, based at Hancock Field, fly the MQ-9 remotely piloted airplane. The wing stopped flying F-16s in 2010.
Air Force regulations mandate having emergency personnel trained to extract aircrews and passengers from crashed aircraft, the release stated.
New York state civilian firefighters currently provide emergency-response services at the New York Air National Guard bases in Westhampton Beach (Long Island) and Scotia (near Schenectady), under agreements between the Air National Guard and the state Division of Military & Naval Affairs.
If all four firefighters at Hancock Field accept their reassignment, the number of emergency responders at the firehouse in Newburgh will increase to 29 from 25, according to the news release.
The four firefighters would start work at their new location in mid-July.
The firefighters were part of a crash-rescue capability that worked with Hancock Syracuse International Airport firefighters to save the lives of pilots when the 174th flew F-16s, or A-10s before that, the state Division of Military & Naval Affairs said.
Firefighting equipment at the Hancock Field Air National Guard Base will stay behind for use in training Air National Guard firefighters, the release noted.
Firefighting operations at Hancock Field will continue to be supported by local fire departments, as they have in the past, the state Division of Military & Naval Affairs noted. Syracuse Airport firefighters will continue to respond to aircraft accidents or incidents at the entire airfield. And, the East Syracuse Fire Department provides fire protection for buildings on the base, the release stated.
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