SPOKANE, Wash. – Officials with the Spokane International Airport held a mock emergency response on Thursday to practice what to do in the event of an emergency at the airport.
The mock emergency took place at the airport from 10:00 a.m. until Noon. Multiple first responders participated as well as volunteers to play victims.
The exercise took place on location, using the equipment and personnel resources that would be called in during an actual aircraft accident if it occurred on the airport.
Over 40 volunteer “victims” will contribute to this simulated exercise and an expected 40-50 emergency responders will be involved.
Once every three years Spokane International Airport is required by the Federal Aviation Administration to complete an exercise that practices the Emergency Response Plan.
Airport CEO Larry Krauter said luckily they have never had something this drastic happen in real life.
"We have to be prepared for it and that's what today is all about making sure our first responders and the airport fire department personnel are ready in the event that something like this happens," Krauter said.
But this year, they are doing something different.
They are introducing Fairchild Air Force Base to the triage of emergency responders as part of their mutual aid plan.
"They understand a little bit about moving around the airport, communicating with our units, and our units understand how to communicate with them," Krauter said.
If a disaster much like this one were to strike, the airport would also come to aid the air force base.
Krauter said he is pleased so far with what he has seen so far Thursday.
Every year there is a new plan in place so no the annual exercise is never the same.