Team Teaches Officers, Firefighters How To Respond To Hazardous Threats

Emergency teams practiced how to handle a terrorist-style threat in Guthrie. 

Rooms throughout an old building were transformed into mock hazardous chemical labs, but included some real-life dangers.

The training was hosted by the Oklahoma National Guard's Civil Support Team. The team designed to respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents.

On Wednesday, law enforcement and firefighters were given hands-on training on how to respond to one of those incidents.

“We probably encounter maybe one a year or maybe one every other year. That potentially could be a white powder incident or unknown substance type incident,” Guthrie fire Chief Eric Harlow said.

The Oklahoma National Guard's Civil Support Team teaches men to survey and record what they see in the room before reacting.

“The fire department got an overview of different means of detection prior to entering in to the room,” Oklahoma National Guard First Sgt. Michael Treanor said.

“Sometimes, we don't sit and think things through and we barge in and kick doors in and go to do the job that we do,” Harlow said.

The mock situations are meant to look and feel realistic, even using once hazardous chemicals to provide a true reading on their tools and equipment.

“What we are trying to do is prevent them from becoming victims as well. Fire and police are trained to rush into a scene and try and help people and we want to help to make sure they don't become a victim themselves,” Treanor said.

“Even though we are in a small town, it can happen anywhere at any time and we want to be prepared for it in the event that it does,” Harlow said.

The team uses these training exercises to not only showcase the their abilities but also to build relationships with local law enforcement and fire departments.

The state's Civil Support Team is a federally-funded program and it provides monthly training sessions across the state.