Hands-On Above the Ground: Westmoreland Fire Hosts Multi-Company Aerial Apparatus Training

Oneida, NY - Firefighters with the Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department took to the skies Tuesday evening, partnering with neighboring departments to conduct an intensive hands-on training drill focused on aerial apparatus placement, setup, and operation in Oneida County.

On the night of September 8, company members gathered to participate in specialized truck company evolutions designed to build familiarity with various styles of aerial ladders and platforms. Responders worked through real-world scenarios covering proper turntable positioning, outrigger and stabilizer deployment, overhead obstruction clearance, and aerial master-stream management.

The interagency drill was conducted in close collaboration with the New York Mills Fire Department and the Clinton Fire Department, both of which dispatched aerial apparatus and veteran personnel to guide the joint training exercises.

Department leadership highlighted that hands-on cross-training with regional partners provides invaluable exposure to heavy equipment that Westmoreland personnel routinely encounter on large-scale mutual aid fires. By standardizing communication, reviewing technical operations, and coordinating apparatus positioning in a controlled training environment, the departments ensure seamless, coordinated execution when called to working emergency scene