Precision at Height: Firefighters Braved the Rain to Hone Complex Aerial Operations
Photo by Bedford Hills Fire Department
Bedford Hills, NY - Heavy aerial apparatus took to the skies on a rainy Sunday morning as firefighters from three Westchester County departments joined forces for intensive, hands-on flight evolutions during the New York State Aerial Operator Course.
On September 27, 2026, members of the Bedford Hills, Yorktown Heights, and Purchase fire departments trained side-by-side to hone the critical technical skills required to operate high-reach apparatus safely and effectively. The state certification curriculum brought together Bedford Hills Tower Ladder 57, Yorktown Heights Ladder 51, and Purchase Ladder 53 for coordinated evolutions under challenging, wet-weather conditions.
Participants drilled extensively on complex positioning scenarios, outrigger stabilization on uneven ground, elevated master-stream applications, aerial rescue maneuvers, and precise turntable and bucket controls around simulated obstacles and utility lines.
Conducting joint evolutions ensures that chauffeurs and truck company personnel build operational fluency with neighboring rigs, fostering seamless communication and muscle memory that pay vital dividends when operating together on mutual aid structural firegrounds.
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