Lucketts Volunteer Fire Company Conducts “Station Sustain – River Surge 2026” Functional Exercise

On the evening of Wednesday May 27th, 2026, members of the Lucketts Volunteer Fire Company Support Services Unit conducted “Station Sustain – River Surge 2026,” a multi-site functional exercise designed to strengthen the unit’s ability to support prolonged emergency operations during a large-scale water rescue incident.

The exercise simulated severe weather and rapidly rising waters along the Potomac River, resulting in multiple stranded and missing rafters and kayakers requiring a coordinated multi-agency response. Support Services personnel were tasked with deploying and sustaining operations at two separate operational sites simultaneously:

• McKimmey’s Landing Boat Ramp

• Piscataway Crossing Regional Park

  
  

  

  REHABSU610 setup at McKimmey’s Landing Boat Ramp

Throughout the evening, members operated REHABSU610, U610C, ISU610, and EMSUTV610, while testing critical operational capabilities including:

• Multi-site incident support operations

• Responder rehabilitation and hydration

• Lighting and generator operations

• Logistics and sustainment coordination

• Accountability and communications

• ICS integration and operational adaptability

The exercise challenged participants with evolving operational injects including responder medical issues, communications congestion, equipment failures, logistical strain, and deteriorating weather conditions. Teams were required to maintain operational continuity while coordinating support efforts across geographically separated operational areas.

One of the primary goals of the exercise was to further develop the Support Services Unit’s ability to sustain responders during extended-duration incidents. Rehab and logistical support operations are critical components of major emergency incidents, ensuring firefighters, EMS personnel, and rescue teams remain safe, hydrated, medically monitored, and operationally effective throughout demanding operations.

Despite periods of heavy rain during the exercise, crews successfully established and operated both support sites while adapting to changing conditions and maintaining communications and accountability.

The evening concluded with a structured hotwash and after-action discussion where participants reviewed operational strengths, identified areas for improvement, and discussed future enhancements to equipment, procedures, and training.

Exercises like Station Sustain – River Surge 2026 help ensure that the Lucketts Volunteer Fire Company remains prepared to support complex incidents throughout Loudoun County and the surrounding region.

A special thank you goes out to all participating members, evaluators, role players, and supporters who contributed to the success of the exercise.

And after a night of rain, operations, and teamwork, the evening ended with a fitting reminder of why we train a full rainbow stretching across the sky above the Incident Support Unit.