News

Robins workers moonlight as volunteer firefighters

  • Published
  • By Holly Birchfield
  • 78th ABW/PA
Robins Air Force Base, Ga. --  When Staff Sgt. Michael Steele and Senior Airman Tyrone Moreland aren't defending their country, they're defending people's property and lives.

Sergeant Steele and Senior Airman Tyrone Moreland, who are both maintenance operations controllers in the 5th Combat Communications Support Squadron at Robins Air Force Base, are volunteer fire fighters and first responders at the Houston County Fire Department's Station 2.

Airman Moreland's father, Rennelle Moreland, has been a fire fighter in Melbourne, Fla. for 27 years. Now, his 25-year-old son is following in his footsteps.

"I always had an interest," Airman Moreland said. "For me, it's more about helping people in need. Fighting fires is a rush for me."

Sergeant Steele, a father of two, said his desire to help others fueled his fire fighting passion also.

"It's knowing that I have the ability to help somebody else in a time of need," he said. "It's knowing that if one of my next door neighbors's children or loved ones gets sick or falls and gets hurt, they don't have to wait necessarily on 911. They can come (and knock on my door)."

For both Airmen, their fellow fire fighters are a second family, one they often spend more time with than their families at home.

Sergeant Steele, a 27-year-old Huntington, W.Va. native, who has been with the local fire department's Station 2 since February 2002, is totally committed to his fire fighter service.

"(With a fire fighter's job), you've got to be 100 percent committed, because if you're not and your mind isn't right and you're not where you need to be exactly when you need to be there, that's somebody else's life at that given second that you're risking," he said.

Sergeant Steele said his fire fighter service has caused him to miss many birthday parties, holidays, and family functions.

Sergeant Steele and Airman Moreland keep their 'bunker gear' with them at all times so they can respond at a moment's notice.

On more than one occasion, Sergeant Steele has been behind the wheel driving to the scene of a fire, while Sergeant Moreland gears up in the passenger seat.

But, Sergeant Moreland said when military duty calls, such as a military exercise, his ultimate passion has to take a backseat.

While both men have pledged allegiance to military service, they take just as much pride in their commitment to saving lives - a job Sergeant Steele said isn't for everyone.

"It's a big deal," he said. "I am a fire fighter. I do carry that rank and honor with pride, because not just anybody can be a fire fighter. The physical demands and the training we're required to go through and the gear that we wear, it's pretty intense."