Kadena Fire & Emergency Services

24/06/2023

Fire Stand Tacos were amazing! Great job everyone

13/06/2023

Kadena F&ES said farewell to our beloved Fire Chief, CMSgt Ken Wobse. Chief Wobse will likely go down as one of all time greats in this Fire Station. His leadership kept our flight going strong through some of the most difficult times a leader may ever face. COVID-19, he ensured a plan was in place to keep all military and MLC as safe as possible in a job where teleworking is just NOT an option. Civil unrest in the continental United States could have lead to unrest within the walls of our workplace. Chief Wobse sat down with everyone and lead crucial open discussions that created vital dialogue within the ranks. Emotions were at a high, everyone had questions and answers and Chief ensured we talked TO, not ABOUT each other in those nervous moments.
Chief Wobse is a man who believes in second chances, believes in being fair and seeing things through many lenses before making decisions. He encouraged and supported his senior fire officers, fire officers, firefighters, and office staff in all development personally, professionally, and as a department. The amount of awards accrued under his tutelage are too many to count, and the recent Accreditation of our department is simply the cherry on top.
Chief Wobse; You lead with a passion for our job, a professionalism admired by so many in our enterprise, and the biggest heart many of us have ever seen and may ever see from a Fire Chief. We wish you, Rachel, Kellen and Kaden the very best at Dover AFB and in everything that lies ahead.
The hearts and minds of the firefighters here will always have a spot with your mark on it, thank you Chief Wobse!

28/04/2023

This week KF&ES turned the spotlight on growth within the department before saying goodbye to 2 important members of the flight.
First, Chief Wobse presented black helmets to SrA Harris and SrA Casey Means. The black helmet signifies the step up in the department from a firefighter to a driver/operator. These 2 worked hard to get through a tedious rookie book, many certifications and hundreds of tasks. Congratulations on your promotion within the fire department!
Wrapping up our roll call, we sadly said goodbye to a couple of our flight's important members.
SSgt Hicks is heading to recruiting duty after 4 years at Kadena. Arriving from Minot, Antoine started as a driver/operator before moving to crew chief. He made his presence known and valued on operations right away. Hiis work ethic was a big reason he was selected to take on the role of Fire Inspector ahead of his peers. He worked in Fire Prevention for a year before being tasked to fill the crucial role as NCOIC of the Emergency Communications Center. SSgt Hicks will be most remembered as being a voice of the people and a person many people went to for guidance and advice. Best of luck as a recruiter, we know you will do great things!
SSgt Edwards begins his next chapter of life as "Mister" Edward's after 6 years at Kadena. Gabe came in from Colorado and immediately stepped up as a crew chief and a leader on shift. He made the move to Fire Prevention where he did great work and maintained continuity in the office as a Lead Inspector over the last 3 years. SSgt Edwards is also a valuable member of the Okinawan community as he is a founding member of the Ryukyu Guardian Lions, Okinawa's professional American Football team. We wish you the very best in your next endeavors and look forward to seeing you on Sportscenter!

18/04/2023

Well, it's PCS season, maybe you've heard?
Over the last week Kadena FES has said goodbye to a few of our members as they are heading to their next adventures.

TSgt Taylor Kinard heads to Chievres after 4 great years. TSgt Kinard will be remembered as being the face of Fire Prevention Week 2020. He was the star of many safety videos that put Kadena Fire Prevention on the map globally. Along with that, Sergeant Kinard made TSgt, lead the Emergency Communications Center as NCOIC, and earned his Assistant Chief of Operations certification while stationed on Okinawa. The department says, "Thank You!" and wishes you continued success and blessings on your travels!

SSgt Joe Cristi heads home to California after fulfillment of his enlistment. Joe came here from technical training school and quickly grew and took on every position in operations through Lead Firefighter/Station Captain with vigor. His love for the profession was never in question and he spent countless hours ensuring the young firemen that came through the door were trained expertly and efficiently. His innovative training styles were a hit and his free spirited, loving personality set him apart. He was well loved by military and MLC firefighters alike, and his presence will be dearly missed. The department says "Thank You" and wishes you the best in everything you do back home!

SrA Fernando Santos came to Kadena from Honduras and immediately added an energy to his shift on operations. SrA Santos piled up many certifications that enabled operations to continue at it's electric pace. Amongst these was Telecommunicator, which lead him to become a critical part of our Emergency Communications Center when it was needed most. He not only filled the role of dispatcher, but was key to training many new personnel who were getting certified in this vital duty. SrA Santos, your contributions did not go unnoticed and your ever-present positive attitude will be surely missed department-wide. Kadena Fire says "Thank you" and wishes you the best as you head to Scott AFB, who will be lucky to have you.

04/08/2022

13/04/2022

It is always bittersweet when we have one of our team members PCS. SSgt Barker has been a part of many different sections of the Department, most notably as NCOIC of the Emergency Communications Center. Tom leaves a positive impression on us all. We thank you and your family for your time spent with us on Kadena, and wish you good luck in your future endeavors!

13/04/2022

Congratulations to these awesome Airman who received the monthly Leadership Award from the 18 CEG Top 3! A1C Spaulding received his for the month of December ‘21, and SrA Valdez received his for the month of January ’22.
Well deserved, keep up the great work!

03/03/2022

Training in low visibility lets us put our Thermal Imaging Camera(TIC) to use. No matter the conditions, we can see you.

12/02/2022

Friday morning, many of our firefighters took time to pay tribute to our fallen brother Derek Kozorosky. 11 years have gone by but you are not forgotten.
The annual run from Chapel 1 to the seawall memorial is a somber one filled with reflection. It is our duty and honor to remember Koz in this way.

12/02/2022

Thursday was a great roll call for KF&ES. LT Col Joo came down to recognize and present awards for our most recent accolades.
SrA Turan received a coin from the Commander of Air Force Installation & Mission Support Center Det 2, Colonel Holliday, for winning PACAF Firefighter of the Month: December. SrA Turan showed off his incredible leadership while cruising through his personal training, all while simultaneously training new firefighters their Rookie Books. He stood out in December and it was noticed throughout the MAJCOM. Congratulations, Chase!
Mr. Kudeken won PACAF Civilian Fire Officer of the Year. As a leader of our MLC core, his capability in Command and Control of emergency scenes, as well as his desire and devotion to training ensured he stood out amongst his peers. This award could not be more deserved. Congratulations Danny-san!
Last but not least for our awards, MSgt Halle, Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention, accepted the PACAF Fire Prevention of the Year Award. Kadena Fire Prevention. Over the past few years our prevention team has progressed and innovated the profession in so many ways, and this year their impact on our community was crystal clear, leaving no doubt they deserved this award. Congratulations Fire Prevention Team!
To finish off our Roll Call, we had TSgt Dyer ring out and say goodbye to Kadena Fire. Travis arrived here as a hungry SrA and is leaving as a hungrier TSgt. He leaves KF&ES to move on to his next new and exciting career. Thank you for all you did here, as a crew chief, NCOIC of Dispatch, and your great work at the Wing HQ. Good luck and Godspeed, TSgt Dyer!