The New York City Fire Department and the U.S. Marines’ Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) will conduct a large-scale drill at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 22 at the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall’s Island, simulating the joint response to a major terrorist attack.  The drill involves use of a burned-out city bus to simulate conditions first-responders would face trying to rescue passengers and provide emergency medical care on scene.  The CBIRF team will also utilize FDNY’s subway simulator for another phase of the drill, rescuing and decontaminating individuals posing as patients who have been subjected to a toxic release on a subway car.  Members will also cut open a vehicle to extricate those trapped inside.

The drill involves about 100 firefighters and 100 Marines and is the culmination of a week-long training, in which CBIRF has been learning the skills and tactics FDNY would use in the event of such an emergency.  The exercise is also an opportunity for local and federal agencies to coordinate responses to large-scale disasters and work together.  CBIRF is a unit of the Marines based in Indian Head, Maryland and responsible for countering the effects of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive incident.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for local first-responders and the military to learn how to work together so we can do our very best to keep New Yorkers safe, no matter what happens,” Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano said. “The key to being the best at what you do is constant training, planning and preparation. The Marines and FDNY share a deep commitment to protecting the people of this city and this nation.”

(Moshe Altusky – YWN)