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Hurlburt Firefigher Best in Air Force

  • Published
  • By Amy Oliver
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Joining the long list of Hurlburt Field Air Force-level award winners is Mr. Mike Blakely, 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron's deputy chief of Fire Emergency Services.

Mr. Blakely was recently awarded the Air Force Civilian Fire Officer of the Year and is now competing at the Department of Defense level.

Mr. Blakely, who has 33 years of federal service, has been assigned to Hurlburt Field for the past five years. He currently manages a department of 66 firefighters.

Among Mr. Blakely's many accomplishments earning him this honor is his involvement with the local community.

"Chief Blakely has been instrumental in coordinating interagency emergency response training, and has written emergency mutual aid agreements," said Col. Mark Johnson, 1st Special Operation Mission Support Group commander. "Because of his efforts, Hurlburt Field can rely on fire apparatus and manpower support from Mary Esther, Florosa, Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach, Ocean City, Navarre and Okaloosa Island fire departments during catastrophic emergency incidents."

In addition, Mr. Blakely has also trained more than 50 local firefighters on C-130 and CV-22 rescue procedures, ensuring aircrews' the best chance of survival in the event of an off-base aircraft mishap.

Likewise, he's arranged for Hurlburt Field firefighters to attend county firefighter training sessions on foam operations, search and rescue procedures and fire suppression systems.

These efforts have paid dividends. In 2008, the Hurlburt Firefighters responded to 876 emergencies, including structural, aircraft, medical, hazardous material, vehicle accidents and technical rescue.

"The Fire Emergency Services Flight protects $2.1 billion in real property assets and $4 billion in aircraft assets," said Colonel Johnson. "The training and relationships that we build with our local emergency services counterparts are imperative to successful mission accomplishment."