Pawlet, VT - On the evening of August 4, 2026, the West Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department traveled to Washington County to participate in a large-scale mutual aid training exercise held at an assisted living facility in the Village of Granville.

WPVFD members worked directly alongside personnel from four neighboring agencies: the Granville, Hartford, Middle Granville, and North Granville fire departments. The multi-department training was structured around real-world evolutions tailored to the size and layout of a large care facility.

Throughout the session, crews executed primary and secondary search and rescue operations, working through interior corridors, locating simulated victims, and practicing safe patient-removal techniques. Teams deployed on the exterior conducted ladder operations, positioning and raising ground ladders to upper-floor windows and designated access points.

Simultaneously, interior attack crews practiced stretching and advancing charged hose lines through narrow hallways and around tight corners, focusing on line management and proper nozzle technique.

The exercise allowed all five participating departments to test integrated incident command, align radio communications across regional frequencies, and practice coordinated tactics, reinforcing the mutual aid network serving the surrounding communities.