Firefighter training held at Anna Park

Firefighters from throughout Union County gathered last week for a training exercise in Anna. The training event was held Thursday evening, July 14, at the Anna City Park.

Anna Fire Department Chief Gary Rider organized the event. Nearly 30 firefighters from the Anna, Alto Pass, Cobden, Dongola and Ware-Wolf Lake fire departments were able to be on hand.

The training focused on utilizing water sources which would be available in areas where there are no fire hydrants. For last week's training, the water came from a pond at the Anna City Park.

Water was pumped out of the pond into tanker trucks and then transported to portable tanks which had been set up for the training. The water was pumped from the trucks into the portable tanks, and then pumped into the Anna Fire Department's new ladder truck. The water then was pumped back into the pond.

Rider said that the goal of the training was to give firefighters from throughout the county an opportunity to work together. Further sessions are planned.