A large-scale tanker shuttle operation drill took place in Berne on Monday, August 26th. Numerous fire departments took part in a tanker shuttle drill at the Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School. A tanker shuttle is a method fire departments use to get large amounts of water quickly and efficiently to the scene of a fire in an area with limited or no fire hydrants nearby.

Large “ponds” are set up for a tanker truck to empty their water supply into the pond. This water is then fed into an engine to supply the water to other trucks or engines that are fighting the fire. Multiple tankers then cycle filling up the pond and then going to either the closest fire hydrant, or in a rural setting, a nearby pond or other water source to refill their water tank on the truck. Without the quick and efficient operation of a tanker shuttle, the crews fighting the fire may run out of water if a proper water supply system is not established.

While this operation was going on, other firefighters, some new, worked inside the middle school cafeteria practicing large area searches for victims that may be trapped or disoriented in a large room that is filled with smoke and fire. Another group of newer firefighters were working on their hose skills in the parking lot.

Crews also utilized their new drone unit to record video of the drill. The drone unit is operated out of one of the compartments on one of the trucks, which is even equipped with a TV screen in the compartment.

Agencies at the drill included Berne/East Berne, Knox, Westerlo, Onesquethaw, Gallupville, New Salem, Hunterland, Guilderland Center, Slingerlands, Altamont, Rensselaerville fire departments as well as Helderberg Ambulance.