06/11/2025
Yesterday, we teamed up with our mutual aid partners at Chelmsford Fire/Local 1839 for a multi-agency training exercise which focused on relay pumping operations. The scenario pushed our resources to the max—relaying water from a supply engine through an attack engine to support a ladder pipe operation.
In simple terms, the supply engine pushes large volumes of water from the hydrant, through the engine, and into the attack engine. The attack engine then takes in that water, pressurizes it, and pumps it to the attack lines for effective fire suppression.
Relay pumping is a complex task, even within a single department, requiring seamless communication, coordination, and timing. Add another department into the mix, and the challenge grows—but so does the opportunity to learn and improve together.
With multiple moving parts—supply engines, attack engines, and aerial apparatus—training like this is essential. Drills like these ensure we’re prepared to work effectively side-by-side when the real call comes in.
A huge thank you to CFD Training Captain, Erik Byam and our very own Training Captain, Herman Sousa for setting up this exercise. Strong partnerships like these are what make mutual aid work.
Special thanks to Fire buff JB Photography for capturing the day!
