Firefighters with the Perry Volunteer Fire Department were seen engaging in their one-Saturday-a-month training exercises along Willis Avenue this morning.
One of this month’s lessons was in operating the pumper truck, a skill every firefighter needs to know in its rudiments, according to Perry Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chris Hinds.
“That’s probably the most important job at a fire scene is to get water out of the truck,” Hinds said. “If you can’t get water out of the truck, it’s like showing up to a gunfight emptyhanded. So it’s important that everybody know how to pump the truck just in case, since we’re a volunteer department, and that way everybody can at least get water out of the truck and start fighting the fire until we get someone there who’s more qualified.”
Hinds said all the Perry firefighters need basic knowledge in operating the pumper truck, so once or twice a year all the volunteers review pump operations. Training session also involve operation of the ladder truck, he said.
