Hands-On at Yaphank: Cutchogue Firefighters Master LIRR Access and Evacuation Protocols

Cutchogue, NY - More than twenty volunteer firefighters from the Cutchogue Fire Department traveled to the Suffolk County Fire Academy on Tuesday evening to participate in intensive, hands-on drills centered on handling rail transportation emergencies along the Long Island Rail Road corridor.

The specialized session took place on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, utilizing the training grounds' realistic mock commuter station in Yaphank. Firefighters boarded a full-scale passenger train car, conducting tactical walk-throughs and simulated emergency evolutions to master the intricate operational demands posed by rail incidents within their North Fork response district.

During the evolutions, personnel studied railcar layouts, specialized emergency door and window access points, power isolation procedures, and passenger evacuation strategies designed for mass-transit environments.

The drill marked the fifth of six scheduled trips to the Yaphank academy for Cutchogue personnel this year, reflecting the department's ongoing commitment to regular advanced live-fire and technical rescue evolutions.

Officers and members extended their gratitude to the Suffolk County Fire Academy instructional staff and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for partnering to deliver realistic, high-level operational training to help protect local residents and commuter lines.