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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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NFARS firefighters on duty at world event

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andrew Caya
  • 914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. --  Firefighters of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station were present and on location during the 2011 World Junior Hockey Tournament games held at Niagara University's Dwyer Arena in Lewiston, N.Y

Because of a mutual aide agreement with the local community, firefighters from NFARS were requested to assist with local first responders at Dwyer Arena.

"We were called in by Upper Mountain Fire Company not only to support them in their manning but also because of our [specialized] equipment," said NFARS Assistant Fire Chief Aaron McLane.

Throughout the 11-day tournament the NFARS HAZMAT team was standing by ready to provide protection from any incident.

"We supported every single game, starting on December 26 through January 4," said Chief McLane. "Everyone from the base fire department participated at one time or another."

Although the world juniors' hockey tournament did not have a HAZMAT occurrence, the NFARS fire department is no stranger to real life HAZMAT incidents. In May, June and August 2010, the fire department responded to several HAZMAT and other incidents, greatly aiding Western New York.

Lt. Mark Gifford, a driver operator with the NFARS Fire Department spoke on the fire department's unique HAZMAT capabilities.

From radiological to chemical and biological, we can detect anything that could happen and assist in rendering the area safe, Lieutenant Gifford said. "We're one of the highest trained units in the area...[and] our equipment is a big asset to the community. "

Lieutenant Gifford who manned the information hub and monitored all of the teams' equipment during the hockey games at Niagara University's Dwyer Arena, expressed pride in the work he and his team did for an international audience.

"We were excited that something so large was in our 'backyard', [the games] gave us a new perspective on our training," said Lieutenant Gifford . "We were proud that we were a part of something that the world watched."