A few minutes later two bright yellow firefighting vehicles of the Waco Airport Fire and Aircraft Rescue Team sped from Waco Fire Station No. 10, less than a mile away from the control tower, into position near the notional casualties. The lead vehicle sprayed a few seconds\u2019 burst of a non-water-based foam designed for fighting aviation fires.<\/p>\n
Soon thereafter, a line of firetrucks, ambulances and paramedic vehicles approached, coming from outside the airport. Firefighters, paramedics and medic trainees began to evaluate the simulated injuries on the casualty role players and drag or carry them across dozens of yards of tarmac to triage areas.<\/p>\n
Officials conduct a similar mass casualty exercise at the airport every three years, and this year\u2019s added an extra challenge for coordinating additional resources from outside the immediate area.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, we\u2019re part of a regional mass casualty exercise with Austin-Bergstrom Airport and the airport in Killeen doing this right now as well,\u201d Waco assistant airport manager Justin Millican said.<\/p>\n
Millican also said the training scenario expanded locally to include hospitals and medical helicopters from Air Methods as well as the Waco Fire Department, Waco Police Department and American Medical Response.<\/p>\n
Also on hand were 10 medic trainees from McLennan Community College and 15 AMR paramedics. A multi-patient ambulance bus with four medics drove 90 miles from Cedar Hill southwest of Dallas to take part in the exercise as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur goal here is to walk through all the steps of our Waco Regional Airport emergency plan and make sure that everything actually works the way we think it should,\u201d Millican said. \u201cWe\u2019re very grateful to the volunteers who will roleplay all kinds of injuries. Having these role players and the injury makeup will add to the realism of the exercise for the first responders. It makes it more than just checking boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Millican also said officials were also testing new patient tracking technology and the interoperability of their radio communications.<\/p>\n
In total 51 personnel from seven agencies took part, Waco Fire Assistant Chief Philip Burnett said.<\/p>\n
In addition to the two specialized airport firefighting apparatus, the Waco Fire Department sent four engines, an aerial truck and three command vehicles.<\/p>\n
The Waco Police Department sent four patrol vehicles and two supervisor vehicles.<\/p>\n
\u201d The Waco Police Department played an active role in today\u2019s airport emergency exercise, and we appreciate the opportunity to work with surrounding agencies, practice vital skills, and gain as close to a real-world experience as possible,\u201d spokesperson Cierra Shipley said. \u201cThis provides our agency with the knowledge and preparedness needed to make the best decisions and protect our community in the event of a real emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n
AMR responded with five ambulances and three supervisor vehicles. The Waco – McLennan County Emergency Management Office responded with its director and two vehicles.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 Waco Tribune-Herald, Texas. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \n Clark County Commissioners approved a four-year extension that freezes current rates, adds two ambulances and expands Heartland Ambulance EMS services without increasing taxpayer costs\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \n Brian Thomas agreed to pay the county $1, drop his counterclaim and make several admissions, ending a legal dispute over his 2024 resignation\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \n Iredell County rescuers and partner agencies trained inside the historic battleship, using its tight compartments and steep ladders to simulate complex technical rescue scenarios\n <\/p>\n
Visit www.wacotrib.com<\/a>.
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