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January 25, 2013
GOSPORT
Emergency responder’s home damaged in blaze From NASWF PAO
As a Navy aviation boatswain’s mate, ABH3 Nathan Henkin is trained to fight and extinguish aircraft fires on airfields and on board ship. However, on Jan. 9, he and his family experienced the other side of a fire, as the victims. Fortunately, the family members all escaped injury as two fires raged through the house they were renting at the intersection of Hamilton Bridge Road and Glover Lane in Milton. The first fire was noticed shortly after midnight when Henkin went to shut off the garage lights. Smoke filled the space and he was able to see flames. Henkin got his wife, Heather, and three children out of the house, and called 9-1-1. Teams responded from Skyline and Milton fire departments, and the fire was extinguished about 2 a.m. Damage was mostly limited to the garage area at this point. Grabbing a few possessions, he took the
A Jan. 9 blaze severely damaged the Milton home of NASWF’s ABH3 Nathan Henkin. Henkin and his family escaped harm and members of the local and military community have pitched in to lend a hand.
family to a friend’s house where they stayed the night, but a short while after their arrival, the family received another shock. The fire had flared up again, ruining the rest of the house. Henkin drove back to the house by himself the next morning to see if anything was salvageable, but there was little left. “The damage to the garage upset me, but when
I went back and saw the house, I knew everything was gone,” Henkin said. Along with his eight years as a military fire fighter – the last two with Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Henkin endured a similar experience as a child when his parents’ house was damaged by a fire. So he was somewhat prepared for the emotions involved with starting over. It was more difficult
for his wife. “It was hard. I’ve never been through anything like that,” Heather Henkin emphasized. “You just never think it will happen to you.” Despite the tragedy, however, the one good thing that the family has been able to realize is the outpouring of goodwill from the community. Members of his department, local veterans, the
base Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society, the Fleet and Family Support Center, local friends and more have reached out to help them in their need. Clothes and toys have been donated for the children. Lodging was immediately procured in military housing and furniture was either purchased on their behalf or loaned to them from the base’s loaner locker. Their pressing
needs were taken care of to help them get back on their feet. It doesn’t restore all that was lost, but it has been a blessing for the family. “People from the community have helped us out tremendously as we try to get through this. It’s helped a lot, I mean, the next day our kids had new clothes to wear,” Henkin said. “It has been more than we could have ever asked for.”
NASWF’s Assistant Fire Chief Volturo retires From NASWF PAO
Surrounded by firefighters old and new, Assistant Fire Chief Steve Volturo was recognized for a long and distinguished career protecting those who defend the country. For more than 35 years, Volturo worked with, sweated beside, and trained firefighters at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Including a short stint at NAS Pensacola, his career spanned 38 years – first as a military firefighter and later, upon his honorable discharge, a civilian firefighter on the base. It is a career that garnered a great deal of admiration from those within the brotherhood. “Chief Volturo served with love and respect for his fellow firefighters and with love and respect for the department,” Deputy Chief Dan Chiappetta stated to the assembled guests during the official welcome. He did it to make a difference, and chief, you made a difference.” Following the welcome, Chiappetta invited the guests to enjoy some firehouse cooking of fried mullet, hushpuppies, coleslaw and iced tea. During the luncheon, traditional gifts such as a firefighter’s bible, a shadow box, a framed photograph and several plaques were presented to Volturo to thank him for his years of service.
Assistant Fire Chief Steve Volturo holds onto his shadowbox as it is handed to him by Assistant Fire Chief Kristopher Keller. The box and several other mementoes were presented to Volturo during his retirement ceremony Dec. 28. Volturo retired from federal service with 38 years under his belt. Photo by Jay Cope.
Volturo’s career at Whiting Field started shortly after he finished Navy boot camp and received orders to Crash Division. He was assigned to Navy Outlying Landing Fields Holley, Brewton and Choctaw and worked with T-
28, T-34, H-1 and TH-57 aircraft. Two weeks after his tour of duty was up, he became a federal firefighter, using many of the same skills he learned in the Navy. He progressed up the chain until he accepted a billet as the assistant chief of operations at NAS Pensacola where he served for two years until he transferred back to NAS Whiting Field to finish out his career. As he took his turn with the microphone, Volturo thanked the retired firefighters who had trained him, and praised the guys still serving today. “You all are a great bunch of guys,” he said. “Professional guys. The diligence and work ethic it takes to be a professional firefighter is phenomenal. As other people run away from danger, these guys rush in, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.” Serving in one area for 38 years is highly unusual, especially in a Navy base where most people only get to experience short tours before having to move on. For Volturo, however, this was an area he never wanted to leave. “I love Whiting Field. Capt. Coughlin is the 19th commanding officer I’ve worked for here,” he said. “This is a great place to work. This is my home, and it is all the people that make it so special.”
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