Lumbard secured the necessary Coast Guard authorizations and joint training began in late August 2016 . Over a three-day period , six members of the Fire Rescue Department and eleven members of Nauset Flotilla participated in exercises on Cape Cod Bay and nearby Pleasant Bay . The SAFE boat and an Auxiliary boat were used in training . Personnel practiced radio communications protocol , along with visual and audible hailing of boaters in distress . They also practiced heaving lines , tying on , and towing , with the two boats taking turns towing each other . They practiced actually boarding each other ’ s boat . Finally , they practiced plotting courses and running various search patterns used for locating persons in the water . All agreed afterwards that the training was very successful and additional exercises should take place again next summer .
The joint training by Nauset Flotilla and the Orleans Fire Rescue Department represents , in participants ’ collective memory , a first in this area . Similar training may have occurred in the distant past , as perhaps it has elsewhere as well . In any case , there ’ s no doubt that forging interagency bonds and adopting and practicing standardized emergency protocols are highly desirable . Here , on Cape Cod , the net result promises to be significantly improved maritime incident response . y Bonds scue Department
Wes Baden , USCG Aux and Pike talked , though , it became clear to the two of them that a unique opportunity was presenting itself . Flotilla Auxiliarists and Fire Rescue personnel potentially could train together , just as Auxiliarists and active duty Coast Guard personnel do . Among other benefits , members of the Flotilla and the Department would learn how to work together efficiently , if ever on scene at the same time , plus the Department itself would be better prepared to respond to direct calls for assistance by the Coast Guard , anytime that they came in .
( Upper Left ) Aaron Burns , Firefighter , Orleans Fire Rescue , watches as Auxiliarists Charles Pelczarski and Alden Lumbard tie on to Orleans Fire Rescue boat . ( Above ) FC Alden Lumbard stands with Fire Chief Anthony Pike , in front of Orleans Fire Rescue boat .
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