Emergency responders across the country contend with different geography-related challenges, and Wareham is no exception.

With the town's more than 54 miles of coastline, it's safe to say that our first-responders will end up in the water fairly often during their careers.

The Wareham Fire Department has instituted a drill that gets new recruits ready for water rescues, and on Thursday, August 8, three of the department's newest recruits were put through their paces at the Gleason Family YMCA pool.

"It's basically to check their competence and confidence in the water," said Wareham Firefighter David Wahlstrom. "We have so much water around us," he continued, "chances are, we're going to be in the water" at some point.

Wahlstrom says the department strives to make sure that its first-responders are as strong in the water as they are on the ground.

"This has been a work in progress for years," said Wahlstrom, noting that the program was the brainchild of Fire Chief Robert McDuffy. "This is all Chief McDuffy's doing."

The guys at the pool Thursday were training to get entry level certification, and did tests that included treading water for a period of time, swimming under water, and more.

This is one of the easier drills the recruits will go through. Last January, the department used a chainsaw to break through the ice of Tihonet Pond and officials conducted drills in cold water.

Brrrr!

The work doesn't phase most of the firefighters, Wahlstrom says:  "A lot of these guys just a different breed."