Emergency exercise takes community by surprise

Two firefighters from the Reelsville Fire Department (above) practice a real-life emergency Saturday during this year's Emergency Planning Exercise. In all, 14 entities and nearly 30 firefighters were involved in the program this year. Taking place behind Blackstock Stadium on the campus of DePauw University, the "crash scene" (below) consisted of pickup truck and two trailers to simulate the metaphorical disaster. (Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON)

More than a dozen organizations from around Putnam County took part in an emergency exercise Saturday in efforts to be better prepared when real disasters strike.

This city-wide "emergency" involved fire crews, police departments and first-responders of all types, Putnam County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Tom Helmer explained.

"Part of this exercise is to test communication and response times in case of a real emergency," Helmer said. "This is a full-scale exercise that took a committee eight months to plan."

In total, 14 entities worked together Saturday: Fire departments from Greencastle, Cloverdale, Reelsville, Madison and Washington townships; police officers from Greencastle, DePauw University and the Putnam County Sheriff's Department; CSX; first-responders from CERT, DePauw University's CIRT, Operation Life and Putnam County EMA and Curtis Wrecker.

(Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON)

First meeting in the Phoenix Closures parking lot as early as 7 a.m. Saturday, teams from each organization took their respective positions around town ahead of what was simulated to be a train wreck behind Blackstock Stadium on DePauw's campus.

With an intent to confuse, the crash scene behind the stadium consisted of two utility trailers (meant to act as train cars) and a propane-driven pickup truck.

The vehicle, which was metaphorically wedged under the tanker cars, caused hazardous material to spill from two separate 30,000-gallon diesel tanks, putting the truck and the surrounding area at immediate risk.

Crews from each fire department surrounded the scene at precisely 9 a.m. when the exercise began. Two members of the Russellville department used the Jaws of Life to open the vehicle door in an attempt to extricate their pretend passenger, only to be met with a surprise propane leak.

And, since they were unprotected, they too fell "victim" to the gas leak. Greg Curtis of Curtis Wrecker was also affected by the propane leak. Three total "victims" were affected by the wreck before proper equipment was worn.

"Diesel and other gases," Greencastle Fire Chief John Burgess explained, "can be acidic and combustible so we're performing inhalation tests and setting up (absorbent) tubes around the area as well."

A command center, situated in the nearby bowling alley parking lot, oversaw the process while the likes of Burgess and Helmer ran the operation from the ground.

In a bit of a twist, an actual structure fire took place the night before and "rekindled" during the exercise, causing a slight delay in the overall activity. However, after Burgess rounded up more firefighters, the exercise was able to be completed without difficulty.

Once activities ceased and the all-clear was given, participants and volunteers alike took part in an afternoon fish fry at St. Paul's Catholic Church put on by the Greencastle chapter of the Knights of Columbus.