Hancock Air National Guard Base Civilian Firefighters Reassigned to Hudson Valley Air Guard Base

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE, N.Y. (04/09/2014)(readMedia)-- Civilian firefighters currently assigned here 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.

Four firefighters will be reallocated to that base to support 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. The Stewart Air National Guard Base fire department also provides fire protection for Stewart International Airport.

Pilots of the 174th Attack Wing, based at Hancock Field, fly the MQ-9 remotely piloted airplane. The wing ceased flying F-16s in 2010.

Air Force regulations mandate the presence of emergency personnel trained to extract aircrews and passengers from crashed aircraft.

New York state civilian firefighters provide emergency response capability at the New York Air National Guard bases in Westhampton Beach–which flies HH-130 Hercules search and rescue planes and HH-60 Pavehawk helicopters–, and Scotia –which flies LC-130 ski-equipped aircraft– under agreements between the Air National Guard and the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs.

If all four firefighters accept their reassignment, the move upgrades the firefighting and lifesaving capability of the firehouse at Newburgh from 25 to what will be 29 emergency responders.

The firefighters were part of a crash rescue capability that worked with Syracuse International Airport firefighters to save the lives of pilots when the 174th flew F-16s or A-10s before that.

The four firefighters would start work at their new location in mid-July.

Firefighting equipment at the base will remain there so it can be used to train Air National Guard firefighters. These citizen Airmen train part-time on the equipment to be prepared for overseas deployments as part of Air Force Air Expeditionary Wings.

Firefighting operations at Hancock Field will continue to be supported by local responders, as they have in the past.

Syracuse Airport firefighters will continue with their mission to respond to aircraft accidents or incidents at the entire airfield. The East Syracuse Fire Department provides fire protection for buildings on the base.