This past Sunday, firefighters participated in Maritime Tactical / Water Familiarization Training led by instructors Brendan McAuley and Bob Bell of Maritime Tactical Training, who led a comprehensive water-survival training session at the Gordon College Bennett Center Pool.
Firefighters from Manchester, Beverly, Salisbury, Essex, and Wenham participated in training built around one critical question: What happens if you fall into the water—and what is your gear truly capable of, how will you survive?
Conducted in a controlled environment, the training allowed firefighters to safely explore both their personal limits and the performance of their equipment, while learning how to manage stress, remain calm, and avoid panic in the water.
Firefighters trained with:
- Various PFD types to understand what works best—and why
- Different gear configurations
- Self-rescue techniques
- Extraction methods for rescuing others
Manchester Fire Department would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Manchester Harbormaster’s Office for coordinating and setting up this valuable training, which directly enhances firefighter safety during maritime firefighting and water-based emergency responses.
We would also like to thank the Beverly Dive Team for providing safety divers and ensuring a safe, controlled, and highly effective training environment, as well as Gordon College for the use of their pool facility.
As a seaside community, your firefighters face unique challenges. Through strong partnerships and specialized training like this, we are better prepared to operate safely and effectively in maritime and water-related emergencies.
