FOR most of our troops in Afghanistan, the Taliban is the enemy.

But for Camp Bastion’s fire crews, it’s flames as well as bullets they are trained to tackle.

Almost 30 firefighters are based at Camp Bastion, the UK military base which, for many troops in Afghanistan, is the closest thing to home.

Yet its position in the middle of the desert, where temperatures can sometimes top 50C, means fires can easily break out.

Anything from an aerosol can left in the sun to a helicopter landing in the heat of the day poses a fire risk, and our men are on high alert around the clock ready to put all hands to the pump.

The crews, which include airmen and women from RAFs Benson and Brize Norton, split themselves between two fire stations, one in the centre of Camp Bastion which deals with fires on the base, and the other on the airfield to watch for aircraft fires.

They also help unload casualties from helicopters and have an immediate response team on standby to tackle incidents “outside the wire”.

Many are called to help extricate casualties from vehicles following explosions.

Sgt Rob Moylan said this aspect of the job can be hugely rewarding if they rescue someone alive.

He said: “It’s not a daily occurrence, but it does happen.

“For us to get into a heavily armoured vehicle can be a three-hour job and, if someone is in pain, that’s going to be a long wait.

“If you think you have got a guy who someone has just tried to kill who is in a lot of pain and all he wants to do is get the hell out, we have to talk him through everything we are doing.

“You have got to keep him positive and get him out as quickly as possible. Luckily we’ve got the best medical aid.”

He added: “Unfortunately, if we are doing out job, it means someone is having a bad day.

“The guys see a lot of things they hope people will never have to see, but that’s their job and they do it in an extremely professional manner.”

Senior Aircraftman Kieran Carney said: “I enjoy being with the lads and they get you through it. The morale out here you can’t get anywhere else. If you don’t have it you are not going to work 100 per cent.

“Coming out here makes you realise what you take for granted.”

It is SAC Jamie Atkin’s first tour, and the longest he has been away from home in Truro, Cornwall.

He added: “I enjoy the job, the stuff we do is very rewarding. It was nice to be recognised for the Leatherneck fire.

“I was definitely nervous coming out here, just being away for four months. The first month was probably the worst and after that, time just seemed to go quicker.”