MARTINSBURG, W.Va –
Firefighters from the 167th Airlift Wing were the first on scene at a Berkeley County garage fire on Feb. 7, 2026 preventing flames from spreading into the home’s main living area.
Berkeley County Department of Emergency Communications dispatched the West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Fire Emergency Services directly for the house fire, located near the base. Within two minutes, the crew had their gear on and the engine on the road, arriving first on the scene.
The 167th AW is located at Shepherd Field in Martinsburg, West Virginia. A mutual aid agreement with the county ensures the closest available fire company responds to emergencies, whether on base or in the surrounding community.
“When we arrived, we had fire in the garage that was extending into the attic,” said Tech. Sgt. Michell Alerding, company officer with the 167th FES. “My immediate priority was to provide a scene size-up to incoming units while my crew deployed the hand line.”
Airman Logan Herring and Airman 1st Class Izaiah Cortes, both probationary firefighters, advanced the hand line, a pre-connected fire hose carried from the engine and operated on foot to deliver water directly onto the fire. Herring and Cortes aggressively attacked the fire before it could spread into the home.
Staff Sgt. John Segreti and Tech Sgt. Brandon Evans supported suppression operations, helping contain the fire within minutes. By the time Alerding completed his size-up and returned to the front of the structure, most of the fire had been controlled.
“They remained calm while working quickly and efficiently to attack the fire and prevent it from spreading into the rest of the house,” Alerding said. “That speaks to their training. As an officer, there are a lot of factors I have to consider on a first-arriving call. Knowing the firefighters in the back of the truck know what they’re doing allows me to focus on the bigger picture.”
High wind conditions prompted a request for additional manpower.
Staff Sgt. Jared Feaster, Senior Airman Jared Jungkeit and Senior Airman Nicholas Viccellio responded in a utility vehicle and assisted on scene, their availability made possible by increased staffing during Unit Training Assembly weekend.
“This is something we train for every shift,” Alerding said. “We focus on basic skills and full structural exercises so our firefighters, including our newest members, are prepared to perform when it matters.”
In recent years, the unit revamped its probationary training process, strengthening requirements and skill validation for new firefighters. Alerding said that investment contributed to the performance of the newest members on the scene.
Firefighters assigned to the 167th enlist in the WVANG and attend the Department of War Joint Fire Academy at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas, completing three months of technical training. After returning, they enter a structured probationary period during which individual skills are evaluated and signed off through a qualification book.
“That fire was a good example of the benefit of our mutual aid agreement,” Alerding said. “It ensures the closest available resources respond quickly.”
Guard firefighters serve both a federal and state mission. For members of the 167th FES, that includes protecting Air Force assets on the installation and responding to emergencies in the surrounding community under the mutual aid agreement.
Although the Feb. 7 fire drew attention due to its proximity to the installation, for the 167th firefighters it reflected a routine but critical mission: remain trained, remain ready, and respond without hesitation when called.