The United States Air Force Fire Protection career specialty is the military's premiere specialty in fire protection. Much like their civilian counterparts, these military firefighters protect people, property, and the environment from fires and disasters. They provide firefighting, specialized rescue, HazMat responses, as well as provide fire prevention and response to weapons of mass destruction. Though every branch has its own fire protection career specialties (USAF - 3E7X1, Army - 12M, USMC - 7051, Navy - AB, Coast Guard - DC), they all must graduate from the Air Force's 13.5 week fire academy (or civilian equivalent) in San Angelo, Texas before being awarded their Firefighter certification.
History
Prior to the National Security Act of 1947 and the subsequent splitting of the Air Corps from the US Army, fire protection in the Armed Forces finds its roots in the armies of the Civil War.
Federal firefighting began when Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton issued an executive order to Mayor George Opdyke of New York in 1862 for fire protection assistance for the Federal Army. Mayor Opdyke selected Assistant Chief Engineer John Baulch of Eagle Engine Company No. 13, along with Mohawk Engine No. 16 and Peterson Engine No. 31 to provide service to the Federal Army, and they were shipped to Fortress Monroe. John Baulch was appointed Chief Engineer of the Fire Department of the Southern Division of the Federal Army.
During WWI, the United States Army, under the Quartermaster Corps, provided two types of firefighting companies: Fire Truck and Hose Companies. Fire Marshalls of this era held the rank of 1st Lieutenant or Captain. Station Captains were typically manned by a Sergeant First Class. Just three days prior to the December 7th attacks on Pearl Harbor, the Army transferred the firefighting function from the Quartermaster Corps to the Corps of Engineers and were dubbed Engineer Firefighting Platoons (EFFPs). Engineer Aviation Firefighting Platoons (EAFFPs) were established to provide fire protection for the Army Air Forces. This is the beginnings of the USAF Fire Protection field
The Air Force opened its first firefighting school at Lowry Air Force Base, which moved to Greenville AFB, MS, and, in 1964 to Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois. In 1992, the school was moved finally to Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas and was named the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, where it still trains firefighters from every branch of the Armed Forces.
In the early days of the Air Force fire service, the Fire Chief was a civilian position only. The Air Force struggled to maintain adequate numbers of firefighters because the airmen knew they would never be able to become fire chief as a member of the Armed Services.
Organization
The top firefighter position in the Air Force, the "The Air Force Fire Chief," is the most senior fire chief position and runs the Department of the Air Force Fire & Emergency Services Branch (HAF/A4CXF) within the Readiness Division (HAF/A4CX), Director of Civil Engineers (HAF/A4C). The CXF is one of six Branches in the Readiness Division (CX) and establishes policy and guidance for Air and Space Force Fire & Services. </ref>
Outside of the basic positions listed above, there are additional titles that exist within the fire service:
Fire Inspector
Crew Chief
Logistics Officer
District and Division Chief
Battalion Chief
Firefighter EMT/Paramedic
Emergency Communications Center Operator
Emergency Communications Center Manager
Traditions
Though the civilian fire service is steeped in tradition, the military fire service stymies the amount of distinguishing traditions that their fire companies may establish.
Helmet colors depicting rank is a tradition in the fire service among both civilian and military.
White - Chief
Red - Crew Chief/Captain
Black/Yellow - Firefighter
In some departments, the yellow helmet is used to indicate a probationary firefighter. In other departments, the ranks of "probie" through Captain wear the same color helmet and the rank is depicted by the color of the shield.
Dog - The use of a dog (most notably, the Dalmatian) as a mascot is one of the most distinguishing traditions of fire services. In the military, the fire service is typically portrayed as a Bulldog or Dalmatian. At the fire academy, members of the 312th Training Squadron are referred to as "Fire Dawgs" and are personified by a Bulldog in a fire helmet.