Quick reaction keeps disaster at bay Published Dec. 11, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Christopher Hummel 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The quick response of Luke firefighters and civil engineers prevented a bad situation from getting worse Dec. 5 at the base medical clinic. A hot water pipe burst at 8:53 p.m. on the second floor, spreading water to the medical server rooms. The Luke fire department arrived with two fire engines six minutes later. Once on scene, the firefighters began containing and removing the estimated 500 to 1,000 gallons of water which also leaked to the first floor. "We were able to take control of the situation by stopping the water release, before more significant damage could occur." said Steve Kinkade, the Luke Fire Department's B shift assistant chief of operations. "Worse case scenario, we could have lost the base medical server." Firefighters and civil engineers, along with medical personnel continued the mop-up well into the night finishing just hours before patients walked in for care the next day. "The areas primarily affected were administrative in nature," said Col. Peter Brewer, 56th Medical Group deputy commander. "There will be minimal impact to the overall operation of the medical group and patient care during the two-week cleanup process." Clean-up costs have been estimated at $75,000, said Maj. Steven Bacs, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron Operations Flight commander. "Despite the mess and cost associated with the incident, the timing of the burst was actually fortunate," the major said. "The medical group had been allocated about $25 million in medical operation and maintenance renovation funds for fiscal year 2007."