Too Hot To Handle: CBRNE Exercise

Photo By Senior Airman John Foister | Fort Eustis first responders handle a simulated chemical during the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives exercise at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, April 27, 2021. Multiple agencies coordinated to quickly and safely respond to the simulated threat.  

VA, UNITED STATES

04.27.2021

Story by Senior Airman John Foister 

Joint Base Langley-Eustis

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. - Multiple agencies across Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, teamed up to conduct a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives response (CBRNE) exercise, April 28, 2021.
The training began when a van carrying simulated chemicals arrived at an inspection station near one of the gates at Fort Eustis. The military police at the scene radioed in the emergency and evacuated the passengers from the van.
“(The objective of) this exercise was to have emergency management, the fire department and military police on the same page so we know how we respond to these types of emergencies," said Bryan Anthony, assistant chief of operations, Fort Eustis Fire Department. "Trainings like these are very important for the overall mission because you don't want to get caught in a situation where you don't know what to do."
Military police on scene quickly noticed passengers inside the van displaying signs of illness and rushed them away from the vehicle.
First responders arrived and quickly donned protective gear to search the vehicle for possible CBRNE exposure. Once the team found the exposure they assembled an inflatable decontamination zone to disinfect people in the area.
Throughout the exercise, inspectors monitored the response teams actions to the changing environment.
“My biggest takeaway is that all the agencies work well together,” said Tim Scott, a lieutenant with the Fort Eustis Fire Department. “It is good to get everybody on the same page and working together."
The setting of the event accurately simulated challenges that responders may encounter during a real-world emergency, such as traffic management and being at the mercy of the elements.
According to Scott, coordination by all agencies was paramount to ensuring that a real-world incident could be handled efficiently, professionally and effectively.
The inspection team will use the results of this exercise to develop more training opportunities and continue to prepare first responders at JBLE for anything that may come their way.

• Date Taken: 04.27.2021
• Date Posted: 05.05.2021 15:35
• Story ID: 395727
• Location: VA, US