BUTLER, NJ — August 18 — Firefighters from the Butler Volunteer Fire Department participated in a training session with members of the Bloomingdale Fire Department on a joint apparatus and hose-line exercise.

The training emphasized a fundamental aspect of mutual-aid operations: understanding how to operate from equipment provided by another fire department.

The Butler Volunteer Fire Department is based at 26-28 Carey Ave.

in Butler, New Jersey, and consists entirely of volunteers.It has served the community since 1902 and maintains a fleet that includes fire engines, a tower ladder truck, and a rescue unit.

On August 18, firefighters from both departments practiced deploying and repacking hose lines from each department's apparatus.

This activity helped them get accustomed to the differences in equipment arrangement and hose storage between the two departments.

For engine crews, this experience can be valuable when working together with other departments during an emergency.

Fire trucks can vary in their hose setups, compartment organization, and placement of tools, and firefighters may need to operate from a different vehicle during a mutual-aid call.