CE keeps structures sound, roads safe Published Jan. 16, 2013 By Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Mountain Home Air Force Base weather has been brutal recently, causing a readiness exercise to end early, blanketing the roads with snow and ice, and causing pipes to burst in hangars and houses. Through it all, the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron has been there repairing structures and plowing safe passage for Gunfighters. The repairs and maintenance, however, has already cost the civil engineers 10 percent of their annual budget, said John Bialke, 366th CES deputy commander. To remain good stewards of taxpayer money, Bialke reminds Gunfighters to take precautions and home, and to call CE as soon as a problem is identified. "If we know there's a heating problem in your house or work center, we can get repairs started before pipes bust, which frequently causes a great deal more damage and costs much more to repair," said Bialke. CE recommends the following for winter protection: Base Facility Managers: Treat your place of work as you would your home, do not leave doors wide open for extended amounts of time. It can take several hours to reheat a hangar bay or maintenance work space open the doors have been opened. During these extended cold spells it might be prudent to have a night watchman to ensure your heating system continues to function. This is primarily for hangars and large maintenance bays. Do a walk around your facility to ensure all heating systems are functioning. If you notice a maintenance issue call CES Customer Service at 828-2001 immediately to report your situation. Housing Residents: Be sure to check your house foundation vents to ensure they are all closed and securely fastened. Be sure to check and/or change your furnace filter at a minimum of every other month. A clean filter provides more air flow ensuring your furnace is operating at maximum efficiency. Be sure to disconnect your garden hose from the outside faucet. Report all maintenance issues to SC Jones at 832-4643. A look at local weather channels reveals sub-freezing weather will continue through the foreseeable future. Still, leadership is confident the base engineers will continue to keep Gunfighters safe. "We've had water pipes busting in hangers and houses, and snow removal operations have not let up since Christmas," said Col. Steven Griswold, 366th Mission Support Group commander. "Our engineers have been doing a bang-up job and should be commended."