POUGHKEEPSIE – Since reviving a training division that had been defunded for more than a decade, the Poughkeepsie Fire Department is back to training regularly. With the funding restored earlier this year, Lieutenant Christopher Burke was promoted to Captain of the Training and Burke immediately began preparing training drills (evolutions) for the firefighters in the department.
On Monday, motorists entering Poughkeepsie over the Mid-Hudson Bridge were able to see the raised ladder of Poughkeepsie Fire Department Tower Ladder 2 as it sent a stream of water supplied to it from a fire engine out into the Hudson River. The training drill covered many situations that firefighters could encounter at an emergency, including pulling water from a hydrant, having a fire engine supply water to the ladder truck, and ladder truck operations.
“We train often and in different areas to maintain our skills and competency,” Captain Burke told Mid Hudson News following a recent training evolution at the Poughkeepsie waterfront. “By doing this, we will be better prepared to use these skills when they are needed at an emergency incident.”
“With the majority of our firefighter ranks now under 10 years of service, it is imperative that we put a vigorous training regiment together to compliment the training the men received in the fire academy,” Chief Joe Franco said, noting that several recent retirements of senior men have resulted in the loss of more than 150 years of institutional knowledge and experience.
“The PFD is a young department now, and it’s important that these junior men grow in this job, and stay knowledgeable,” said firefighter Nick Bucher, president of the IAFF Local 596 which represents the Poughkeepsie firefighters.
Training is tentatively scheduled to continue for the next few days.
