| On Saturday, September 26, Potsdam Fire, West Potsdam Fire, Canton Fire, West Stockholm Fire, Hannawa Falls Fire, Morley Fire, Norwood Fire and Norfolk Fire participated in a district-wide drill at the St. Lawrence County George E. Briggs Fire Training Center.
The training focused on large-scale water supply operations, involving apparatus and personnel from multiple fire districts. The Rural Hitch was implemented, along with multiple Porta-Tanks, tanker shuttle operations, drafting sites, and several other water-supply training opportunities.
District 3 has been working with Canton Assistant Chief Johnson on the Rural Hitch, and this drill provided an opportunity to put that training into practice on a full-scale operation.
The drill began with the first-arriving engine dropping LDH and laying out. The first-arriving tanker then connected to establish the water supply, with the operation scaling up from there. Porta-Tanks were deployed, drafting sites established, and the tanker shuttle operated until the Incident Commander determined the simulated fire was under control. Crews then began breaking the operation back down to 3-inch lines for overhaul.
The TFT Rural Hitch Checklist was used as a reference throughout the drill.
Large-scale training exercises like this are the foundation of preparedness. They allow departments to work together, practice complex water-supply operations, and build the coordination needed for a large-scale incident. |
