Bucks, PA - Firefighters from Midway Volunteer Fire Company conducted a training drill focused on hose packing and deployment operations using the cross-lay slide-out trays on Engine 5.

Crews worked in groups to practice properly loading the removable trays, each carrying 200 feet of 1½-inch hose. The setup allows for up to four handlines to be deployed quickly from a single apparatus, making proper packing critical for efficient operations.

The drill emphasized that even basic skills play a vital role on the fireground. Proper hose loading ensures rapid deployment and helps eliminate delays in getting water on the fire, reinforcing the importance of mastering fundamentals.