Countywide Hazmat Drill Simulates Emergency, Provides Training

More than 80 rescue workers from across Riverside County gathered for a large-scale training exercise Wednesday hosted by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, marking the first time members from a tribal emergency services unit were involved in such a drill.

The exercise by the Countywide HAZMAT Operations Group (CHOG) simulated a chemical leak from a railroad train tanker containing hazardous materials.

Dressed in hazmat suits and firefighter turnouts, rescue personnel from eight area emergency agencies assessed the dangers of the situation and then sealed punctures in the tanker as water simulating a dangerous chemical trickled from the holes.

“Joint exercises such as these are an excellent opportunity to increase regional coordination and for agencies to become familiar with each other’s resources and capabilities,” said CHOG Chairman Mike Koury, a battalion chief with the City of Riverside Fire Department.

While the training only simulated an accident, workers treated the drill as a real incident. All necessary safety procedures were followed to ensure that workers remained sensitive to the dangers of an actual hazardous chemical spill.

Participants in the CHOG training included teams from the Riverside, Corona and Hemet and Cal-Fire fire department hazmat teams; the Morongo Fire Department, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Hazardous Device Team; and the Riverside County Departments of Environmental Health and Public Health.

Today’s exercise marked the first time a tribal government and its fire department have taken part in a CHOG training exercise.

“I’m delighted that the Morongo Fire Department was able to participate in today’s drill with our regional public safety partners from across the County,” Morongo Tribal Chairman Robert Martin said. “The more we train together, the better prepared we all will be in the event of an actual emergency.”

Part of the exercise included familiarizing the Hazmat crews with railroad tanker cars. Union Pacific Corp. railroad provided a tractor trailer containing displays of actual railroad tanker car valves. The crews rotated through the trailer to practice shutting off the valves.

“The cooperation and coordination that develops through these types of exercises will help protect our communities if or when the need arises,” said Dr. Eric Frykman, the county’s medical officer.

The Department of Public Health manages and coordinates the CHOG project. The goal of the exercise was to ensure that all first responders and HAZMAT teams involved in any toxic or potentially toxic spill are properly prepared in the event of an actual emergency.

Funding for the training was provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.