MEDIA ADVISORY

Media Contact: Steve Felano Albany County Hilltown Volunteer Fire SAFER Grant Task Force Mobile: 518.852.1863 Email: ACHVFire@gmail.com

ALBANY AND SCHOHARIE COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES TO CONDUCT LARGEST FIRE RESPONSE DRILL OF THE YEAR (RESCHEDULED FROM JUNE)
WHO: Volunteer firefighters serving the towns of Berne, Knox, Westerlo, Gallupville, Huntersland, Onesquethaw, and Altamont. A comprehensive fire response drill at the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Elementary School. This drill will sharpen the skills of area firefighters to better prepare them for any fire emergency at the BKW schools. Multiple practice interior firefighting evolutions will occur, simulating the actual search and rescue operations that may be required at a large, populated structure such as a school. This drill will place heavy emphasis on firefighter accountability and improved familiarity with the school environment. In addition to the interior firefighting evolutions, there will be a large-scale operation flowing significant volumes of water using approximately 10 pieces of fire apparatus. This aspect of the drill will challenge firefighters to establish and maintain the levels of water necessary to extinguish a large fire in a building the size of a school with minimal reliance on hydrant systems, which are rare in the Albany hilltowns. Monday, July 15, 2013 6:30 PM Berne-Knox-Westerlo Elementary School 1738 Helderberg Trail, Berne, NY 12023 This drill will place observers in the middle of a full-scale fire service training operation illustrating how fire companies collaborate to lend assistance across -more-

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jurisdictional boundaries in emergency situations. Opportunities to capture oneof-a-kind images, video, and natural sound will be available. Berne Fire District Chief Richard Guilz Jr. will be on hand to provide interviews, along with the firefighters under his command. -CLICK HERE to see Westerlos Vol. Fire Chief discuss the goals of the drill-CLICK HERE to view the BKW Drill master plan-CLICK HERE for an inside view of our latest vehicle extrication drillABOUT: The Albany County Hilltown Volunteer Fire SAFER Grant Task Force exists to enhance the operational capabilities of select volunteer fire companies serving Albany Countys hilltowns. Supported by funding from the Department of Homeland Securitys Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, the task force communicates the story of the volunteer fire service to the public, and outfits new volunteer firefighters with the gear, pagers, and physicals required to perform their civic duties. Volunteer firefighting is a journey of service, dedication, and commitment. CLICK HERE to start yours today. -###-