McAllen Fire Department hosts regional training

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The McAllen Fire Department hosted a three-day regional training for several cities in Hidalgo County.

The cities include the City of Pharr, City of Mission, City of Edinburg, City of Weslaco and the Borderland Fraternal Order of Leatherhead Society, a local firefighter non-profit organization.

This training is the first of its kind in McAllen and brings together the various cities to learn more about truck company operations. These operations include fire apparatus placement, crew confidence, emergency operations and allow for cross-training of the various city fire departments.

"We're one big metro area and even though we are all different jurisdictions, it is very common for us to work together and it is very important for us that we are implementing the same strategies and tactics," said McAllen Fire Chief Juan Gloria.

The 24 students involved in the course have brought ladder trucks from each corresponding city to assist them in the exercises.

These types of operations allow firefighters to work various tasks while high on a ladder and on the fire ground.