VIDALIA &045;&045; The Vidalia Fire Department found a positive side to the Mississippi River’s high waters.

The department spent Thursday backing up its fire trucks to the water’s abnormally close edge to test the water pumps on each truck.

The annual pump test is something required to receive good fire protection ratings. The department can test the pumps any time of year, but Chief Jack Langston said he wanted to take advantage of the river.

Though the test is required, it checks something Langston said VFD hardly ever has to use. The trucks’ pumps drew water from the Mississippi before discharging back into the river. Typically, VFD receives its water from a hydrant, not from a body of water.

If the river water weren’t accessible the test would have to be done using portable water tanks.

&uot;It’s easy here because we don’t have to worry about where we discharge,&uot; Langston said.

Because the water is well over the boat ramp on the riverfront the trucks could park horizontally and align with the river, a position necessary for the test.

When the water is below flood stage the trucks can’t park horizontally with it.

When tested at 100 percent the pumps moved 1,250 gallons of water a minute, Langston said. The spray shooting high into the air lasted for about 10 minutes on each truck.