Spokane County emergency crews train for mass casualty situations

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Over the next few days, more than 500 firefighters and emergency crews from ten agencies across Spokane County will gear up to practice the best response techniques for a mass casualty situation.

Mock trainings were held at Holly Energy Tank Farm, and at Fairchild Air Force Base, where hypothetical hazmat situations were supposed to have injured or incapacitated a dozen people and contaminated other workers.

Hazmat situations can be complex and dynamic, which is why being able to work as a team is crucial to effective response.

“We need to have those firefighters trained together, even if they don’t work for the same department,” said Division Chief Nathan Jeffries. “Because we’re going to rely on each other during that type of incident.”

Chief Jeffries says the focus for this specific exercise is decontamination, working to help patients who might have been affected by whatever substance or material has leaked.

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