Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. -- Cherry Point Fire and Emergency Services conducted a joint training drill with eight local fire departments during a water relay at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Dec. 13.
Local departments from Havelock, Township Six, Newport, Morehead City and Harlowe joined the firefighting and Marines from Cherry Point and Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Marines from Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue for the large-scale drill, which included moving, water more than a mile from a fire hydrant through a series of connected hoses.
The drill tested firefighting capabilities of each department under various conditions and served as practical application to maintain the air station fire department’s accreditation status.
“Each year we must demonstrate our specialty in different firefighting skills in order to remain relevant and keep our accreditation status,” said C. Josh Boudreau, assistant fire chief with the Cherry Point Fire Department.
The Cherry Point firefighters specialize in responding to structure fires and train to respond to a variety of emergencies at the air station. The department also coordinates with local civilian departments to prepare for unexpected, large-scale emergencies, said R. Todd Wade, the air station fire chief.
“The drill was important to conduct because a drill of this capacity cannot be replicated solely at our smaller department level,” said Wade. “This is the first time that many of our personnel were given the opportunity to learn the ins-and-outs of a relay drill in a practical situation.”
The department also used the drill to learn the capabilities of local departments, said Wade.
“Exercises like this one are a great opportunity for the departments to get familiar with each other and observe the different equipment,” said Wade. “In the event of an emergency, we will know exactly which departments have the equipment to assist.”