Fire Drill, Tuesday, December 12, 2017

At Tuesday evening’s drill, Companies 1, 2, & 3 were at the Ames parking lot engaged in a “Aerial Standpipe Operations Drill.”

WHAT IS A STANDPIPE SYSTEM?

Standpipe systems are a series of pipe which connect a water supply to hose connections, basically an extension of the fire hydrant system. They are designed to provide a pre-piped water system for building occupants or the fire department.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

In the event of a multi-level structure fire, the fire hydrants deliver water to the hoses to be used to extinguish the fire. In multi-level structures, the water needs to be potentially moved up several stories.

The drill on Tuesday was to practice using the ladders (Aerial) to move the hoses up several stories while connecting the hydrants to the standpipes found in many of Rocky Hill’s structures, to move the maximum amount of water necessary to effectively deal with the fire on a multi-level structure. This system has the potential to give a continuous stream of water at a constant pressure level.

In discussions with Fire Chief Michael Garrahy, this drill is also designed to develop strategies of how to use this system in other non-structured fire applications.

As someone who is privileged to observe the drills close up, and occasionally participate, I can attest to the fact that the training our Rocky Hill Firefighters go through easily equals that of career Fire Departments in larger towns and cities.

Great drill Companies 1, 2, and 3.

Pastor Ron, Chaplain