Scarywood to host hazmat drill

Where else to stage a frightening hazardous materials scenario than at Scarywood?

The Halloween makeover at Silverwood Theme Park in North Idaho will serve as the setting Tuesday for a major training exercise led by the Idaho National Guard’s 101st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team.

“This full-scale exercise aims to challenge Kootenai County and other responders in executing a comprehensive response to a situation involving a covert dispersal of an unknown hazard in Silverwood Theme Park during the October Scarywood season,” the Guard said in a news release Friday.

Also participating will be Kootenai County, Timberlake Fire Protection District, Panhandle Health District and the FBI. The agencies will be assessed on how they react to a potential man-made threat.

As part of its October schedule, the park will be closed to the public Tuesday. The grounds “will provide the trainees with a realistic environment in which to train,” the state said/Scott Maben, SR. More here.