Oneonta Professional Firefighters Local 2408

Today, members of the Oneonta Professional Firefighters Local 2408 conducted swift water rescue training.

Members practiced using highlines to move rescuers across the river, along with go-rescue techniques where firefighters enter the water to reach and remove simulated victims.

The Oneonta Fire Department maintains specialized equipment for these types of incidents, but equipment alone is not enough. Swift water rescue requires consistent, hands-on training so members are prepared to operate safely and effectively when seconds matter.

12 emergencies and counting.

The Oneonta Professional Firefighters Local 2408 have been busy today, responding to numerous ambulance calls, fire alarms, traffic accidents, and fires.

Operating at the minimum staffing level of six firefighters on duty, today’s call volume has quickly stretched available resources.

Off-duty crews have already been called back four separate times to staff the station and handle additional emergencies. Without them, some of these calls would have relied on mutual aid or waited for on-duty crews to clear.

Calls don’t slow down—staffing has to keep up.