Tanker Operations, Drafting Are Focus of Drill
 
By Ex Chief Dean W. Pappas
April 15, 2019
 

Many people do not realize that two-thirds of the Katonah Fire District is outside of the hydrant district. That means tanker trucks carrying thousands of gallons of water, and the ability to draft from pools and ponds, are essential parts of KFD's regular training. Monday night's drill started inside, where officers and Tanker 6 drivers explained how to set up a portable pond, capable of holding 3000 gallons of water, and explaining how to draft from the ponds using hard suction hose. The drill then moved outside, where Engine 117 was used to demonstrate how to pull water from a "dry hydrant", that's basically a pipe set up in lakes and ponds that enable fire trucks to connect to it and pull water from it. Katonah Fire Department's training tower complex has a dry hydrant setup so that we can train regularly in establishing a reliable water source without the aid of a traditional fire hydrant.