Training drills are a great way to demonstrate what you have trained for. The Bullhead City Fire Department was invited to participate in hazardous materials training exercise in Laughlin Nevada. Nevada agencies participating included Clark County Fire Department, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, American Medical Response, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Nevada National Guard Civil Defense Team. Other participating agencies included the Western Arizona Regional Medical Center, Fort Mojave Mesa Fire Department, Mohave Valley Fire Department and the Bullhead City Fire Department.
The scene is the access road from Highway 163 to the Davis Dam. This is a perfect remote area for a life like extensive training drill. The training exercise simulated a Metro Police Officer making a traffic stop on a vehicle. Before the officer contacts the driver; the vehicle speeds off. The vehicle then leaves the roadway and rolls. The Metro officer calls for the fire department. Clark County engine 76 arrives with AMR ambulance. The patient/suspect is extricated and prepared for transport. Firefighters observe chemicals and radiology materials scattered in the area of the vehicle collision scene. They safely exited the area, secure the area, and request a Hazardous Materials Team. The closest team is the Bullhead city Fire Department. Under our mutual aid agreement; we responded into Laughlin.
The Bullhead City Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team, with additional members from the Fort Mojave Mesa Fire Department and the Mohave Valley Fire Department, were dispatched to the training scene at 9:30 am. Hazardous Materials Technician and Battalion Chief Greg Raymond was in charge of our participation in the drill. On the scene, Chief Raymond met with the C.C.F.D. Command for assignment. The team was the instructed by Chief Raymond to suit up and prepare to survey the scene.
Technicians Rusty Kreidel and Justin Flummer, wearing Hazardous Materials Protective Clothing and air packs, entered the area of the collision with three air quality monitoring devises and a note board. The two surveyed the vehicle and scatter scene for almost 30 minutes. The two recorded air quality readings, noted the materials and labels that were scattered from the rolling vehicle, and inventorying many items in and out of the vehicle. Upon completion, they returned to the command post and shared their findings with the two commanders.
At approximately the same time, the LVMPD All Hazards Materials Team arrived. They were accompanied by the Nevada National Guard Civil Defense Team. These two teams were to take over the operations of the training drill. Again, Flummer and Kreidel briefed the two new teams as to the results of their survey.
A new plan of action was formed by the assuming command teams. At this time, the BCFD, MVFD, FFMFD teams and the CCFD were released from the scene.
The training drill will continue with additional Nevada components for the next three days. The drill is overseen and evaluated by the United States Northern Command Team.
