Safety and Suppression in Action: Wellsville 3 and RIT Crews Support Tower Live-Fire Evolutions

Wellsville, NY - Regional fire and emergency medical personnel converged on the Wellsville Emergency Services Training Facility Sunday morning to provide operational support, safety monitoring, and live-fire management for candidates completing the New York State Interior Firefighter Operations (IFO) course.

The hands-on burn evolutions were conducted on Sunday, October 18, 2026, bringing together apparatus and personnel from the Wellsville Fire Department, Angelica Fire Department, Andover Fire Department, and Andover Ambulance. The training exercises took place within the facility's dedicated burn tower, giving student firefighters realistic experience with thermal conditions, smoke behavior, search and rescue protocols, and coordinated interior attack techniques under strictly controlled conditions.

To ensure safety and smooth execution during the high-heat scenarios, seasoned volunteer crews managed specialized operational assignments. Wellsville 3 was stationed directly in the burn room to oversee fire control and thermal dynamics, while an additional company was staged on standby as the dedicated Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) to ensure firefighter rescue capability was immediately available. Andover Ambulance provided dedicated EMS standby on the training ground, monitoring firefighter rehab and standing by for medical support.

Department leaders praised the interagency teamwork across Allegany County, highlighting that multi-department support during state certification courses helps build essential fireground familiarity and safety habits for the next generation of interior structural firefighters.