South Royalton Firefighters Strengthened Mutual Aid Skills Through Joint Training

SOUTH ROYALTON, VT — September 7 — The South Royalton Volunteer Fire Department, located at 53 Safford St, South Royalton, VT, United States, 05068, conducted a multi-department training exercise that simulated a school bus rollover.Firefighters from Tunbridge, Barnard, Bethel, and Sharon participated alongside South Royalton’s own crews in this hands-on training session.

During the exercise, responders practiced various skills including stabilizing vehicles, accessing and extricating patients, using equipment, and moving individuals from an overturned large vehicle.

One firefighter acted as the training patient, enabling the crews to practice techniques for safely packaging and removing a casualty.

This joint training proved particularly beneficial for rural fire departments, which often rely on neighboring agencies to provide additional support during emergencies.

South Royalton reported 154 emergency calls in its 2024 town report, including motor vehicle crashes and mutual-aid responses.The department continues to engage in regular training to keep firefighter skills sharp.

The exercise helped improve communication and build familiarity among the departments, ensuring they are better prepared should such skills be needed during a real emergency.