109th Airlift Wing, Area First Responders Hold Major Accident Response Exercise

MEDIA ADVISORY

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Staff Sgt. Chris Pierson with the 109th Civil Engineer Squadron's Fire Department completes search and rescue training at Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, New York, on July 17, 2014

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SCOTIA, N.Y. (06/12/2015)(readMedia)-- The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing will be working closely with about 50 first responders in a Major Accident Response Exercise on Sunday, June 14.

WHO: About 50 first responders will be participating in the 109 AW Major Accident Response Exercise (MARE) including Fire Departments from both Schenectady and Saratoga Counties, Mohawk Ambulance Service, Ellis Hospital, Glenville Police Department, State Troopers, Schenectady County Fire and Emergency Managers, Department of Homeland Security Emergency Services and Office of Fire Prevention and Control. There will be about 20 Civil Air Patrol Seniors and Cadets to serve as simulated victims for treatment.

WHAT: Major Accident Response Exercise (MARE) which will entail a simulated tanker truck explosion on the base.

WHEN: 9 a.m., Sunday, June 14, 2015

WHERE: 109th Airlift Wing, 1 Air National Guard Rd., Scotia, NY, 12302

Members of the media MUST contact Tech. Sgt. Catharine Schmidt or Maj. Anthony Bucci at (518) 701-4312 or (518) 344-2423 no later than 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 14, 2015 in order to gain access to the secure facility.

Media Opportunity:

Media personnel should show up no earlier than 8:30 a.m. and no later than 9 a.m. Interviews will be available with 109th Airlift Wing officials as well as community agency representatives to discuss the MARE. The actual event kicks off at 10 a.m. where there will be a simulated tanker truck explosion as well as simulated casualties. Media are invited to get imagery/video of the entire event.

Background:

MARE is an annual requirement by the Department of Defense Instruction to exercise the wing's disaster response utilizing mutual aid agreements with community first responders.

"In previous major accidents, exercises have proven crucial in saving lives," said Lt. Col. Ronald Ankabrandt, 109th Airlift Wing Inspector General. "The 109th Airlift Wing relies on our community to provide emergency assistance if a major scale disaster or accident exists. It is through training and exercises that we can react, recovery and mitigate future catastrophes."