All day HazMat exercise held at CFAC site

Emergency responders from across Flathead County gathered at the closed Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant for an all-day hazardous materials training exercise last week.

The Northwest Montana Incident Management Team collaborated with the Kalispell Regional HazMat Team, the Texas-based Army North CSTA group and the 83rd Civil Support Team to lead the on June 5 exercise.

“This is the third collaboration with these agencies within the last three years, and each time we learn something new,” Flathead County Office of Emergency Services deputy director Cindy Mullaney said. “It’s an invaluable opportunity to learn how each of these agencies works and teaches us how to integrate in a low-stress situation. It ensures that if we have a real life incident, we will have a more cohesive flow.”

The Kalispell Regional HazMat Team, one of six state-supported, locally hosted regional teams located throughout Montana, is hosted by the Kalispell Fire Department.

The Army North CSTA group is part of the Fifth Army and provides chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response-force training. They also respond to real incidents.

The 22-man 83rd Civil Support Team is part of the Montana National Guard and is based at Fort Harrison. Certified by the Secretary of Defense in 2007, most of the unit’s funding comes from the Department of Defense, with the rest coming from the state.

Local emergency crews that participated included the Columbia Falls Rural Fire Department, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Flathead City-County Health Department, and the Montana Department of Disaster and Emergency Services.