Haverford firefighters train through nor'easter's high winds

Volunteer firefighters in Haverford Township spent the weekend of Sept. 26-27 drilling on engine and ladder operations while a nor'easter battered Delaware County with heavy rain and wind gusts that could reach 50 mph.

Members of the Haverford Township Bureau of Fire trained with Philly Tin Helmet Training, LLC, a Philadelphia-area company that teaches firefighting and rescue tactics. Oakmont Fire Company, one of the bureau's five volunteer stations, posted about the completed training on Monday, Sept. 28, saying the sessions expanded members' knowledge of engine and ladder work.

They didn't cancel.

The training had been in the works for months. L. Howard, a bureau training official, reported having Saturday and Sunday dates in September for the Philly Tin Helmet sessions at the bureau's May 26 meeting, according to meeting minutes. When the nor'easter arrived on the same weekend, the firefighters pushed through.

The storm began hitting the Philadelphia region Friday night and continued through Sunday, according to 6abc. PECO reported thousands of customers lost power, with the majority of outages in Delaware County. A wind advisory remained in effect through noon Sunday, Sept. 27. WHYY reported sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph, with coastal gusts up to 60 mph.

Oakmont Fire Company said in its post that training does not stop, even during a nor'easter.

The bureau is an all-volunteer department staffed by five companies: Bon Air, Brookline, Llanerch, Manoa and Oakmont, all based in Havertown. Oakmont alone has served Haverford Township for 113 years, according to its website. The post did not specify how many firefighters participated or which companies sent members.

The weekend drill fits a broader training push. In July, Brookline, Manoa and Oakmont firefighters trained together at the bureau's training center on Merry Place, covering ground ladder placement, fire attack, search and rescue and apparatus operations, according to a Brookline Fire Company post. At the May meeting, S. Poole was working with Dan Perry on a list of repairs and costs for the bureau's training tower, the minutes show.

Residents interested in volunteering with the Haverford Township Bureau of Fire can find station locations and contact information on the township's emergency services page.