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Sumter, Shaw fire partnership

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The 20th Fighter Wing, city of Sumter, and Sumter County have developed a working friendship and mutual aid agreement to assist each other in situations where help may be necessary.

This mutual aid agreement says that Sumter County, the city of Sumter, and Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, will assist each other in times of need in regards to fires, accidents, and emergency responses.

The partnership has resulted in improved training regimens, a more well-rounded working knowledge to save lives, and helped build community relations.

While all Air Force bases are required to have mutual aid agreements, few ever have to use them. On average, Shaw responds to calls off base once or twice a week. The last time the city or county fire departments were needed to respond to a call on base was back in 2008.

Master Sgt. Travis Mills, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron deputy fire chief said that having the city and county fire departments train with the on base fire department creates an opportunity for Airmen and their civilian counterparts to learn more about each other's skill set and train harder.

Due to training missions with the 20th CES fire department, civilian firefighters receive training in aspects of firefighting they may not have been exposed to otherwise, said Bud Ivey, Sumter Fire Department battalion chief.

In addition to creating better training, working together creates a better firefighter, one who is more adept in saving lives.

"Having fire units on scene within a matter of minutes saves lives," said Ivey. "With the quick response and close proximity of 20th CES fire department, this has been proven over and over again."

"We have learned how to help each other out in times of need," said Mills. "We even have Airmen who augment the volunteer county fire department."

Mills went on to say that approximately a dozen Airmen from the 20th CES fire department volunteer for the Sumter County fire department.

20th CES Airmen don't do this just for themselves, though, building community relations is an important aspect of the mutual aid agreement.

Ivey said the 20th CES fire department has allowed its firefighters to volunteer with Sumter County, which has helped the Sumter community in return.

"It's all about the bond we create," said Mills. "We're here together so we need to help each other."

"Shaw has a great fire department," said Ivey. "We have worked very hard to get the working relationships between Shaw and Sumter down pat and we're very proud of what we have accomplished."