A column written from SSWD General Manager Dan York on important issues and updates regarding various District matters.

July 2026 GM Corner

7.30.2026

One of Sacramento Suburban Water District’s (SSWD) most important partnerships is with Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District (Metro Fire). SSWD works closely with Metro Fire to locate and maintain more than 6,500 fire hydrants throughout the service area, ensuring they are always ready in case of an emergency.

Recently, SSWD provided Metro Fire with a rare opportunity to conduct realistic training in two vacant buildings owned by SSWD before their demolition. Metro Fire Captain Mark Nunez contacted us in March and requested use of the boarded-up site for non-destructive structure-fire drills. We readily agreed to the request and began coordinating site access, hydrant availability, security, and staff support.

Metro Fire conducted an initial multi-company training session in April, focusing on search and rescue, firefighter Mayday procedures, and tactical response. Following this successful training session, we began planning with Metro Fire a more advanced, destructive training session to provide firefighters with a simulated environment closer to that of a real fire.

Once asbestos abatement was completed, we worked to schedule the training with Metro Fire, and in July it at last took place. Firefighters practiced realistic search-and-rescue and invasive, destructive entry into buildings, using circular saws to slice through metal bars covering windows, making vertical cuts through roofs, and breaking down doors, all in smoke-filled conditions similar to those of a real fire.

We were honored to help Metro Fire improve their readiness and strengthen emergency preparedness for our customers and the community at large by giving these buildings one last opportunity to serve before demolition.