Edwards AFB News

Team Edwards volunteers help bring the heat, get Kirtland back in the flow

  • Published
  • By Kate Blais
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Four volunteer Team Edwards plumbers jetted to New Mexico to help repair major damage caused when prolonged freezing temperatures wreaked havoc on Kirtland, causing significant damage to infrastructure and facilities the weekend of Feb. 4.

Col. Robert L. Maness, 377th Air Base Wing commander at Kirtland, called for assistance from Air Force Materiel Command bases.

Within two days, John Shartzer, Weaver Neeley, Jose Rodriguez and Michael Warren, all 95th Air Base Wing civil engineers, were in New Mexico to spend approximately two weeks assisting and supporting Kirtland's recovery.

In what many are calling the worst winter in 20 years for the area, extreme cold dwindled natural gas supplies during a peak demand period and temporarily suspended the flow of gas to Kirtland AFB and surrounding areas. The five-and-a-half-hour suspension, compounded with sub-zero temperatures, made heat restoration difficult.

Lack of heat for more than 24 hours caused water to freeze, expand and rupture pipes throughout the base's piping system. Once heat was restored, the ice melted and water leaked out of the overstressed pipes.

"Team Edwards' volunteer plumbers will work to repair the base Fire Suppression Systems and other interior and exterior plumbing jobs on mission-critical facilities focusing on the flightline first," said Mr. James Judkins, 95th Civil Engineering director.

The four volunteers from Team Edwards joined nine more from around the command to help get Kirtland back up and running again.

According to base officials from Kirtland, approximately 125 buildings, including base operations, the dining facility and both fitness centers, along with more than 150 homes in base family housing, suffered water damage.

"We had an additional 13 plumbers (from around the command) come in Feb. 6," Col. Maness said. "The added capability enabled us to move forward more rapidly on full-scale prioritized recovery and repair operations."

"Edwards responded immediately in fine Air Force fashion," Mr. Judkins said.

According to Col. Gregory E. Schwab, 95th ABW commander, once Edwards received the call, Mr. Judkins and his team worked quickly with the 95th Comptroller Squadron to establish orders; the 95th Mission Support Group to acquire cold weather gear; made after-hours airline reservations and arranged for an overnight freight delivery of extra parts, supplies and tools to be shipped to Kirtland.

Civil engineers from across AFMC are continuing to work around the clock to "assess damage, purge valves, reignite furnaces and water heaters, and begin the task of drying out buildings," said the 377th ABW Public Affairs Office.

"The efforts of everyone across the base," Col. Maness said, "ensured our number one asset, our Airmen and their families, were taken care of."

Although damage assessments are still being conducted, recovery and repairs are rapidly underway.

"I am very impressed and humbled by the efforts of Team Edwards, especially the 95th Air Base Wing Civil Engineering team and their leaders for rapidly mobilizing to aid our fellow Airmen at Kirtland," Colonel Schwab said.