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Gen. Mike Minihan, Commander of Air Mobility Command, visits the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station June 8, 2024.

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Niagara Falls ARS Fire Dept. recognized for excellence

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Andrew Caya
  • 914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, NY --  The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Fire Department claimed two command-wide awards this year.

Last month, the commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, Lt. Gen Charles Stenner stated that the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Fire Department earned the award of Fire Prevention Program of the Year.

According to Fire Inspector John Schultz, the criteria for this award is multifaceted. Code Compliance, Public Education and Innovativeness are just a few of the items the panel looks at when making their selections.

"Earning this award is humbling because we are a small department compared to other larger bases." Inspector Schultz said, "It's an honor to be selected."

Despite its small size, the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Fire Department held its own against larger departments and relied on the quality of the fire fighters working in the station.

"We have a really great team," Inspector Schultz stated. "Working with Asst. Chief Peter Jellison and the other team members is awesome, we really work well together."

One of those quality fire fighters who Inspector Schultz speaks highly of earned the other award that the department claimed.

Assistant Chief of Training Aaron McLane earned the title of 2010 AFRC Civilian Fire Officer of the Year.

Leadership in the fire department stated that they look to Asst. Chief McLane to be one of the leaders in the department when the senior fire chiefs retire from their duties.

"Aaron McLane is a very knowledgeable firefighter", said Chief Jellison, who earned the same award in 2005. He is the future, when this department is heavy with older guys in management. He is innovative, safety conscious, and an all around smart guy; a man that can think while responding to the scene of an incident.

His superiors welcome the fact that Aaron is constantly busy writing safety notes, lesson plans, and updating operating guides. However, Chief McLane is not always behind his desk. "Aaron is a people person" stated, Chief Jellison. He is sensitive to the needs of junior fireman, but stern enough to take control of personnel situations that require attention.

"It feels good to be recognized for my accomplishments in 2010; it was a challenging year for me." said Chief McLane, "I was promoted to the Assistant Chief of Training position in March 2010, a position that was vacant for several months."

After the promotion, the chief's workload was substantial.

Asst. Chief McLane was immediately tasked with several high profile projects: implementing a new Air Force Fire Emergency Services training program, coordinating training initiatives with Niagara County fire departments, coordinating participation in the US and Canadian HAZMAT exercise at the Rainbow Bridge, Exercise Evaluation Team planning, organizing the HAZMAT team standby for the World Junior Hockey Championships at Niagara University, plus an AFRC safety program inspection.

With outstanding members like Asst. Chief McLane and the Fire Prevention team setting the bar for junior firefighters at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, more command-wide awards may be in the future for the base.