RAF Fire fighter Senior Aircraftsman Lewis Collins from Peterborough is currently on a 4 month deployment to southern Iraq where as well as protecting RAF aircraft and personnel, he has been helping train Iraqi fire fighters.

RAF fire fighters have been working at Basrah airfield since 2003 when British military forces started using the site as their main military base in the area. Still under British military control and still used as the main military base, the airport now also doubles up as Basrah International Airport and its development is a key factor in the successful economic future of Basrah and Iraq.

Civilian flights began operating in and out of Basrah again in 2004 with flights now averaging 100 a month.

It is one of the main aims of the current British commander in Basrah that the airport will be handed back to full Iraqi control in the next few months. To do this they need their own skilled fire service.

Lewis, aged 25, and his 15 RAF fire fighting colleagues are in Basrah primarily to protect RAF assets and personnel at the airfield.

The RAF fire fighters provide 24 hour seven days a week cover for the airfield (both military and civilian aspects) and will respond to anything from a bin fire in the passenger terminal to a major aircraft crash. They accompany the Immediate Reaction Teams who respond via helicopter to any incidents outside the base, and they also respond to Indirect Fire (IDF) attacks (mortar rocket) attacks on the base, a once almost daily occurrence but now much reduced to just a couple of attacks in the last month.

Working as a fire fighter back in his UK base at RAF Honington, Lewis, like his colleagues, goes on four month operational deployments every 12 months, to places including the Falkland Islands, Afghanistan and of course Iraq.

At Basrah though much of their time is now spent training and mentoring their Iraqi civilian counterparts who will take over the fire fighting duties at the airport when the Coalition forces depart.

The RAF fire fighters train with the Iraqi fire fighters every day, undertaking practical exercises on the airfield as well as theory training.

“It’s a demanding but good experience,” said Lewis. “There’s something different every day. I’ve certainly learned some new stuff. It’s a good experience working with the Iraqis and trying to tech them my skills. They know what we’re trying to tell them and teach them.

“It’s a new experience teaching people and seeing the results of their training when facing real incidents and knowing they’ve got the confidence that you’ve taught them is good.”

Photographer: RAF

Image: ( Larger size) RAF Fire fighter Senior Aircraftsman Lewis Collins