WAYLAND, MA — April 15th — With a focus on safe apparatus response, the Wayland Massachusetts Fire Department, which operates out of 38 Cochituate Road, has finished its Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) training. Members studied vehicle handling, defensive driving techniques, and making decisions under duress. Crews worked through realistic scenarios that mirrored conditions found in the real world, such as bad weather, traffic jams, and poor visibility. The fire department as a whole requires EVOC training in order to increase operator awareness and decrease incidents involving apparatus.

The department stressed that safe arrival is still the first concern for both rescuers and the public, even though quick response is crucial. Ongoing training is necessary since national trends continue to indicate that automobile mishaps are a risk factor for emergency services. The department encouraged drivers to yield to emergency vehicles and praised Northeast EVOC for its assistance.