Emergency Crews Will Be Operating Under A Cloud Disaster Drill To Mimic Toxic Chemical Spill

Traffic on U.S. Highway 2 in Airway Heights will be rerouted for 3-1/2 hours Saturday morning, as police and firefighters stage a massive emergency drill.

More than 100 people from at least 20 agencies will participate, said Ron Bassen, battalion chief for the Spokane Fire Department.

Participants will see a real - albeit non-toxic - chemical cloud as 8,000 pounds of liquid nitrogen are dumped at a mock accident involving a tractor-trailer rig and several cars. Organizers will tip the rig onto two of the cars.

The exercise was planned long before a chlorine cloud killed one man in Western Montana and sent more than 100 other people to hospitals, Bassen said.

Interstate 90 remains closed at Alberton, Mont., as crews clean up the mess nearly two weeks after the April 11 train derailment that caused the spill.

“It makes you realize this could happen in Airway Heights … It could happen in Spokane,” said Toby Combs, chief of the Airway Heights Fire Department.

Bassen said more than 25,000 railroad cars carry chemicals through Spokane each year. The cars that derailed in Montana were among them.

Combs noted a growing number of trucks carrying chemicals use Highway 2. Some are headed to Fairchild Air Force Base, while others carry farm chemicals.

Combs said he’s anxious to see how his crews, and those from two county fire districts, work with highly trained hazardous materials teams from Spokane and Fairchild.

“There’s always that apprehension when volunteers and career (firefighters) work together,” he said. “Each wants to know what the other will do.”

Helicopters will carry people with fake injuries to Spokane hospitals, said Bassen.

If the emergency was real, the Airway Heights Corrections Center would need 40 buses to evacuate 1,424 inmates, said prison spokesman Rich Hewson. Although the center won’t go through that exercise Saturday, staff will review emergency procedures.

Most prison emergency planning is geared toward problems that arise inside the walls, said Hewson.

“This gives us a chance to plan for whatever else might go wrong,” he said.

Combs said detours on Hayford and Garfield roads will lead traffic around the closed section of highway, from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Customers can use the detours to reach some businesses, but will not be able to reach others, said Bassen.

R.W. Stout, owner of West Plains RV Center, said he isn’t worried about losing sales, even though he’s not certain his business will be able to open.

“Most generally on Saturday morning we don’t see anybody until about 11 o’clock anyway,” he said.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: THE DRILL Who: More than 100 emergency response personnel from the Inland Northwest. When: Saturday from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Where: Highway 2 in Airway Heights. Detours: Traffic will be diverted onto Hayford and Garfield roads to avoid the drill area.