By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

With sirens blaring and water rushing from fire hoses, it was a bit noisy early Tuesday morning as crews from the Hays Fire Department conducted training exercises at Aubel-Bickle Park. With Hays water restrictions in mind, the HFD did double-duty — helping water the park’s grass at the same time.

The training started at 7:30 a.m. and ended before 10 a.m. The city’s water restrictions prohibit outside watering between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.

“We are very cognizant of the city’s water warning,” said HFD Chief Gary Brown. “We are abiding by the no-outside watering after 10 a.m., and we have also cut our … our use of water in half in order to conserve water.

“The city’s wells are getting low, and we need to conserve water,” he added. “All of us have to work together to conserve water.”

Brown said the the purpose of training was to test the abilities of five on-duty firefighters to place two high-gallon fire streams that would be used to control a large building fire and keep such a fire from spreading to other buildings.

“It’s important that we practice these, just as a football team needs to practice,” Brown said. “A fire department has to practice in order to perform well when an emergency occurs.”

Similar trainings for other HFD crews are planned for Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Auble-Bickle Park on Sherman Avenue between 27 and 29 streets.

Brown said the public in welcome to observe the training.