SOUTH SALEM, NY — March 15th — At its Smith Ridge Road station, the Vista Fire Department held a driver training session and a fireman skills workshop. Crews received training on tanker shuttle operations, a crucial rural water supply technique utilized in places without hydrants. In order to maintain a consistent supply of water for suppression, members rehearsed coordinating various pieces of equipment to carry water between fill sites and the fire area. The South Salem Fire Department provided people and a tanker to help.

Pump panel instruction, equipment familiarization, and supervised drive time were all part of driver training. As part of the certification procedure, members advanced through Utility 256, ambulances, and engine and tanker assignments. According to officials, the training enhances driver certification and operational preparedness.