Inside HFD's Training Center

This weekend more than twenty Hopkinton firefighters attended the department’s annual training at the Chief Roger G. Belhumeur Regional Training Facility in Auburn.

Chief Gary Daugherty, Jr. said the department performs drills such as handline advancement, search and rescue, and forceable entry throughout the year, but this annual training is a time to “put it all together”.

The department focused on those common drills, as well as a coordinated fire attack during this year’s training.

Daugherty also said the training afforded the department the opportunity to use their two new fire trucks and Airpacks before field use.

Firefighter Conor Sayles said the annual training is about “getting our reps in” and practicing different scenarios and gaining experience.

“This is where we have an opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them,” Sayles said.

Lieutenant John Krauss said this training is not something often utilized in the field.

“Nationally, fires are down. So training under these conditions ensures that our team maintains vital skills,” Krauss said.