Avon Firefighters Hoop It Up While Training

AVON, CT — Avon firefighters have a unique way of training when it comes to their drills.

Firefighters from the Avon Volunteer Fire Department's Companies 2 and 4 met up recently and took to the basketball court while geared up in full firefighting equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus.

Two teams took to the basketball court to exercise their skills in air management, movement in restrictive clothing, teamwork, and fine motor skills in gloved hands.

The AVFD has made "functional fitness" as an operational priority department-wide in terms of increasing force readiness. Drills like the basketball game are designed to acclimate personnel to the challenges posed by the weight and restriction of firefighter protective clothing, even before considering the challenges of darkness, heat, confined space, and ever-present hazards, fire officials said.

Photo Credit: AVFD