FF Shawn Puffer was recently cleared to begin driver training on Engine 4. This is a pretty arduous course of study because there is so much involved with being a driver/operator, or chauffeur as we call them. The firefighter who assumes the chauffeur position needs to be comfortable driving and operating the rig as well as pumping water either from the onboard water tank, hydrant, or from a static source like a lake or a pond. Today FF Puffer put some road miles on followed by a training session on drafting which is when we have no fire hydrants nearby and we have to draft (pull water) from a pond or stream. This is a difficult evolution and requires some skill and a little bit of luck.
