PHOTOS: How To Fight Fires Without Hydrants

 took part in a training drill Thursday at the upper Melville Pond. 

The purpose of the drill was to demonstrate the proper way water flows from the Tower Ladder Truck via the master stream connected to the platform, according to Capt. Michael O'Brien.

"This master stream device can deliver 1,250 gallons of water a minute," O'Brien said. "For this reason, I directed crews to use Melville as a water source versus a fire hydrant. The water was drawn (drafted) from the pond by Engine 1 and relayed to the Tower Ladder; the ladder then discharged the water back into the pond.  Crews moved an estimated 250,000 gallons of water during the training event."

The probationary firefighters trained in the use of the device. Permanent members of the department also went through the training, refreshing their ability to utilize the equipment.

The drafting portion of the training is extremely useful, according to O'Brien, despite the fact that Portsmouth has complete hydrant coverage.

Portsmouth's neighbors to the north and south (Tiverton and Middletown) have large areas without hydrant coverage. All three towns depend on each other heavily for assistance during structure fires.

Participating in the training were O'Brien, Capt. Eric Hajder, Lt. Howard Tighe, Lt. Steve Lynch and firefighters Mike Pinksaw, Ryan Gill, Drew White, Andrew Jones, Ismael Biurrun and Joshua Berube.