On Thursday, July 24, 2024, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LACoFD) firefighters joined Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad for a large-scale hazardous materials and railroad training exercise held in the City of Commerce.
Held at a BNSF Rail Yard, this training exercise simulated a train derailment having released toxic and hazardous materials as part of a coordinated emergency response scenario, using forcible entry into rail containers, along with reinforcing and improving incident command principles for initial action responses.
These live-training exercises engage LACoFD firefighters with BNSF members in working together to prepare for real world experiences that involve assessing situations, containing hazards, utilizing established command protocols, and practicing critical skills used to ensure the safety of residents and nearby communities.
During the training exercise, LACoFD Battalion Chief Michael Nardone led two teams that participated in morning and afternoon drills comprised the following units:
Engine 1, Engine 3, Engine 22, Engine 27, Engine 25, Engine 39, Engine 50,
Engine 52, Engine 163, Quint 3, Quint 27, Paramedic Squad 3, Paramedic Squad 13, Foam 1, USAR Task Force 103, Haz Mat 105, Haz Mat 150, Battalion Chief 3, Battalion Chief 7, Battalion Chief 8, Battalion Chief 10, and Battalion Chief 13.
The LACoFD recognizes the ongoing efforts and partnership with BNSF to prioritize safety and preparedness to ensure coordinated responses are made with high priority for the well-being of the communities we serve.
