Barnstable Firefighters Conducted Annual Sandy Neck Drill

Barnstable, MA — September 12 — The Barnstable Fire Department conducted its annual Sandy Neck Drill on September 12, uniting fire, police, EMS, natural resource, and conservation teams for a multi-agency training session in one of the town's more isolated regions.

The training involved a simulated structure fire at the town's Halfway House, located along the Marsh Trail.

The primary objective of the exercise was to establish and sustain a reliable water supply in an area where conventional hydrant access was unavailable.

Firefighters tested various water-supply techniques, such as drawing water from static sources and nearby streams.

The Barnstable Fire Department's Marine 1 unit operated from the ocean side of Sandy Neck, extracting seawater and transferring it to the shoreline. Subsequently, forestry trucks and tankers transported the water to the fire suppression zone, where it was stored in a portable tank for use in combatting the fire.

Participating agencies included personnel from the Barnstable, West Barnstable, Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills, Hyannis, Sandwich, and Yarmouth fire departments, alongside the Barnstable Police Department, the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office, DCR Forest Fire, Sandy Neck Natural Resource Officers, and a member of the Sandy Neck Advisory Board.

The department noted that the crews were able to maintain a steady water flow for over 90 minutes.

Town records have previously highlighted the Sandy Neck area as a location requiring detailed planning for emergency access and coordination among responding agencies.

The drill enabled participating organizations to evaluate their equipment, water-supply strategies, and collaborative efforts in a remote setting.