Lakenheath, Bulgarian AF firefighters build partnerships

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chris Stagner
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
GRAF IGNATIEVO AIR FORCE BASE, Bulgaria --  RAF Lakenheath firefighters here in support of joint-exercise Sentry Gold worked hand-in-hand with their Bulgarian air force counterparts May 25, 2010, to build their partnership capacities.

The firefighters provided each other with an orientation on their respective equipment and discussed procedures and techniques.

"Our firefighters have never had the [opportunity] to see how Americans do it, and the Americans have never seen how we do it," said Bulgarian air force Capt. Sevdalin Petrov, Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base firefighter. "It's good [for us] to understand the differences [in equipment and techniques] in case we're ever collocated in support of NATO operations."

Captain Sevadlin said there is not much difference between how the two air forces fight fires.

Tech. Sgt. Charles Derflinger, 48th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department station captain, agreed.

"We put the wet stuff on the fire. They put the wet stuff on the fire. We're all fire fighters," he said.

One difference Captain Sevadlin did note is the amount of American firefighters who respond to an initial call.

"There are more people on your teams," he said. "Our trucks only seat two, and your trucks seat four."