PENN YAN, NY — March 21st — In response to a reported house fire in Rushville, the Benton Volunteer Fire Department, located at 932 State Route 14A, Penn Yan, NY, provided mutual aid. Benton firefighters were sent out with the department's FAST Team, a group tasked with provide quick support to firemen working inside the building if necessary. As interior firefighters worked on suppression and searches, the team set up shop close to the fireground.

In order to increase firefighter safety and offer a specialized rescue crew in the event that conditions change, FAST teams—also referred to as Rapid Intervention Teams—are frequently assigned to working structure fires. In Yates and Ontario counties, mutual aid responses between departments are commonplace, enabling agencies to pool staff and resources in the event of catastrophic events like structural fires.