Some 200 emergency responders were put to the test Wednesday morning in an elaborate disaster simulation.
The 2019 Sarnia Area Disaster Simulation (SADS) was staged at Aamjiwnaang First Nation, requiring Lasalle Line to be closed from the St. Clair Parkway to Talfourd Creek.
Responders were called upon to handle a mock emergency that involved a simulated head-on crash between diesel and propane haulers.
Firefighters doused the semis from a distance using two large ladder trucks, and collection points were set up to prevent the spread of dangerous diesel to nearby waterways.
Sarnia Deputy Fire Chief Bryan Van Gaver said this year's simulation provided many challenges.
"Initially there was a fire on the saddle tank of one of the vehicles with flames impinging onto the propane hauler," said Van Gaver. "The second situation was a diesel leak from the other truck which is getting into the waterways now-- first Talfourd Creek, and then eventually St. Clair River, so we have boats on the water setting up a collection point in the river."
Van Gaver said Aamjiwnaang was chosen specifically for the multi-jurisdictional component of the site.
"It's really good bringing all these people together. Faces are changing all the time so when you can have that familiarity when you actually do show up to an event, it just makes everybody work together better, and you have a real good comfort level," he said.
Van Gaver said debriefings were planned after the exercise to determine areas that may need improvement.
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