The New York City Fire Department and the U.S. Marines� Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) will conduct a large-scale drill at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 22 at the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall�s Island, simulating the joint response to a major terrorist attack.� The drill involves use of a burned-out city bus to simulate conditions first-responders would face trying to rescue passengers and provide emergency medical care on scene.� The CBIRF team will also utilize FDNY�s subway simulator for another phase of the drill, rescuing and decontaminating individuals posing as patients who have been subjected to a toxic release on a subway car.� Members will also cut open a vehicle to extricate those trapped inside.

The drill involves about 100 firefighters and 100 Marines and is the culmination of a week-long training, in which CBIRF has been learning the skills and tactics FDNY would use in the event of such an emergency.� The exercise is also an opportunity for local and federal agencies to coordinate responses to large-scale disasters and work together.� CBIRF is a unit of the Marines based in Indian Head, Maryland and responsible for countering the effects of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive incident.

�This is a tremendous opportunity for local first-responders and the military to learn how to work together so we can do our very best to keep New Yorkers safe, no matter what happens,� Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano said. �The key to being the best at what you do is constant training, planning and preparation. The Marines and FDNY share a deep commitment to protecting the people of this city and this nation.�

(Moshe Altusky – YWN)