News

Training Exercise in Ohio Tests the Response Time of Guard Unit

09/11/2014

Sept. 11--About 50 emergency responders gathered in the Village of Whitehouse on Wednesday to simulate an aircraft crash.

The training exercise, sponsored by the 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard, took place at Blue Creek Metropark. Its purpose was to evaluate how well the 180th Fighter Wing could respond to an F-16 fighter jet crash in an open field.

Simulated plane crash at Ohio's 180th Fight Wing from THE BLADE on Vimeo.

"The importance of this exercise is to practice response times in case of an emergency or if there is an accident," Major Katherine Cherolis, public affairs officer for the 180th Fighter Wing, which is based at Toledo Express Airport, said. "We're exercising mutual aid agreements with the local first responders."

To simulate the crash, diesel fuel was burned in an open filed, and the blaze was then put out by firemen who arrived on the scene in a firetruck. Emergency personnel also had a person float in the Whitehouse Quarry as a mock ejected pilot. A boat was dispatched to collect the "ejected pilot."

"They can't go into the scene until the fire is down," Director of Inspections Ricardo Colon said, adding that multiple units are used to control a scene.

The organizations that participated in the exercise included Whitehouse Fire and Rescue, Whitehouse Police Department, Waterville Fire Department, ProMedica Life Flight, Lucas County Sheriff Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Monclova Fire and Rescue and the Federal Aviation Administration.

"We have some of the best pilots and aircraft in the world and we always hope for the best, but we have to plan for the worst," Senior Master Sgt. Brian Rozick, of the Ohio National Guard, said. "It's important to us because we are in and of the community as a unit. We don't have all the necessary tools if something like this happens off base."