VALHALLA, NY — August 6 — Before the next significant fire or complex emergency challenged the county's foreground command structure, Westchester firefighters spent an evening refining the skills required to handle such situations effectively.

The Westchester County Department of Emergency Services, based at 4 Dana Road in Valhalla, was designated as the lead agency for the training session.

Chief Mark Iannucci, the county’s Fire Coordinator and Director of Fire Services, conducted a two-hour session focused on the Incident Command System and foreground operations. Westchester County has recognized the Department of Emergency Services as a valuable resource for fire training and support for its local fire departments.

The session gathered chief officers and suppression personnel from Battalion 14, which included the communities of Bardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Elms ford, Fairview, Hartsdale, Hastings, Irvington, and Tarry town.

Firefighters engaged in a case study and made command decisions based on evolving incident details.

The class also included instruction on the National Incident Management System and ICS.

This training offered immediate practical benefits.

FEMA highlights ICS as a standardized method for organizing personnel, equipment, communication, and procedures, especially when multiple agencies are involved.

For Westchester firefighters, the evening served as a chance to practice command decisions without the real-world consequences that would occur on a foreground.