PHOTOS: Newbury Fire Department Conducts Pump and Tanker Training at Byfield Station

NEWBURY – Experienced officers of the Newbury Fire Department provided hands-on pump and tanker training to newer members at the Byfield Station on Monday evening, overseeing operations as firefighters learned every dial, knob and hose that keeps a water supply reliable. 

The Byfield Station includes ample parking and a large, paved area where firefighters can train once a month without using private property or inconveniencing community members. The de facto training ground is an essential part of Newbury Fire Department operations.

This week, the station was home to pump and tanker training, which taught newer members to draft water from local streams, ponds or hydrants, to operate the pumps that make that possible, and to operate the pumps that engines use to provide water during emergencies. 

Experienced members guided newer members through using the pumps, drafting tools, and hoses with both a forestry truck, an engine and a tanker, with newer members taking turns going through all the steps.

The complicated but powerful pumps require skill and practice to use efficiently when lives are on the line. Firefighters train and take refresher training to hone their skills on a regular basis. 

The Newbury Fire Department emphasizes the importance of training to build skills and muscle memory that can save lives when emergencies occur. 

“I want to thank the members that made this training possible and the members who focused on the lessons and hands-on exercises to build their skill sets,” said Chief David Evans. “Training is essential to successful firefighting, and some of the most basic firefighting skills are also the most important. We work hard to be prepared for this community, and this training is just another example of the work that we do behind the scenes.”