WEST SENECA, NY — August 7 — Members of the Vigilant Fire Company took part in a townwide mutual-aid UTV drill designed to improve equipment knowledge, search methods, and cooperation between different emergency agencies.

The training started with the involved agencies inspecting their UTVs and discussing the features and capabilities of each vehicle.

Understanding the tools and equipment used by various agencies helps response teams work more efficiently during incidents that require multiple agencies to respond.

Firefighters then practiced search techniques on trails, focusing on how to conduct searches in wooded areas and other hard-to-reach locations where standard emergency vehicles may not be able to access.

The exercise also involved the West Seneca Police Department, which showcased its drone technology for use in public safety operations.

A similar townwide UTV search training event was conducted by the Reserve Hose Volunteer Fire Company.

In that exercise, participating agencies displayed their UTVs, completed challenging terrain tasks, and observed a police drone demonstration.

The Vigilant Fire Company is part of West Seneca Fire District No.

6.The town has six fire companies and districts that are part of its broader emergency services system.

The drill offered hands-on experience in working together across agencies and conducting coordinated search operations.