Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Ralph Kapustka | Members of the Duluth Fire Department treat simulated victims during a hazmat exercise...... read more read more
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DULUTH, Minn. - The 55th Civil Support Team (CST) of the Minnesota National Guard, Duluth Fire Department Chemical Assessment Team and Canadian Pacific Railroad participated in an exercise involving a potential hazardous material leak during Vigilant Guard 2015 (VG15), on Aug. 25, 2015.
The Duluth Fire Department took the lead role as incident commander and called in the 55th CST due to the large scope of the incident.
“We’re good at hazmat, but it’s not the only thing we do,” said Shawn Krizaj of the Duluth Fire Department and hazmat coordinator for the state hazmat team. “The 55th CST are real experts, and they bring in a level of expertise that is second to none for large-scale incidents like this.”
The state looked at perspective sites to host VG15 and Duluth was selected as one of the sites due to the multiple training venues it had to offer.
“We can provide a ship boarding and a railroad scenario, we have a lot of things in Duluth that other areas don’t have,” Krizaj explained.
“We developed a relationship with the 55th CST over the past few years,” Krizaj said. “They have come to Duluth to give classroom radiation training and teach dry decontamination techniques that we can use primarily for cold weather.”
The Minnesota CST is a federally-funded, state-owned asset that responds to unknown incidents. CSTs are on stand-by 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to respond to incidents. CSTs identify chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents, assess current and projected consequences, advise on response measures and assist with requests for additional support. CSTs are restricted to domestic missions only and provide a free service to the communities they serve.
“We have a great working relationship with all the chemical assessment teams in the state,” said Lt. Col. Eric Di Natale, 55th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team commander. “We exercise on a regular basis with chemical assessment teams, we’ve been to Duluth several times this year working on ship boarding procedures, railcar incidents or other unknowns they might need help solving.”
In addition to the 55th CST Minnesota National Guard, the 54th CST Wisconsin National Guard and 71st CST Iowa National Guard are also participating in VG15.
| Date Taken: | 08.27.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2015 17:33 |
| Story ID: | 174481 |
| Location: | DULUTH, MN, US |
| Web Views: | 108 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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