Willingboro Firefighters Priest and LeHuquet recently participated in a regional training session that was hosted by the Cinnaminson Fire Department. The training was held on the morning of June 3rd at an vacant shopping center in Cinnaminson. Several departments from Burlington, Gloucester, and Atlantic counties participated in the training. The training was designed to assist firefighters with learning and refreshing their drafting skills, and the use of Water Tender apparatus.

Drafting is the practice of getting water from a static source such as a portable water tank, river, lake, and even a swimming pool. This practice is used primarily in areas that do not have fire hydrants. It can also be used during large fires when more water is needed than can be provided by the nearby fire hydrants. The skill is necessary for all fire engine driver/operators, and since it is not an often used skill, it is typically practiced on a yearly basis.

The other major component of the training, Water Tender apparatus, is another part of the fire service that is not often used in areas with fire hydrants. A Water Tender is a piece of apparatus that carries a large amount of water, typically 2,500 on up to 8,000 gallons. The types of tenders that were used at the training included straight tankers (with round or square tanks), tender/pumper (can be used as a tender or standard pumper), and a tractor drawn tender (resembles a gasoline delivery tanker).

While Water Tenders are not typically used in areas with fire hydrants, they are sometimes used at large fires when more water is needed than can be provided by nearby fire hydrants. A typical Water Tender operation requires tender and pumper apparatus, along with portable water tanks, also know as "ponds". This operation was used in Delanco at the Dietz and Watson warehouse fire in 2013.

The Willingboro Fire Department would like to thank the Cinnaminson Fire Department for the invitation to the training session. For more information on the training session, you can click on the link below to visit the Cinnaminson Fire Department website.

(Photos courtesy of the Willingboro and Cinnaminson Fire Departments, and Matt Hesser)