Major emergency exercise set for Queen Creek, Pinal County

Pinal County will be holding a multiagency full-scale exercise, partly in Queen Creek, to enhance emergency preparedness and communication.

The exercise will involve numerous first responder agencies from all levels of government, including law enforcement, the National Guard, fire departments and emergency medical services.

It will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Banner Health Center on South Ellsworth Loop Road and two locations in Casa Grande, the vacant outlet mall parking lot on East Tanger Drive and Banner Casa Grande Hospital on East Florence Boulevard.

There will be increased emergency vehicle activity and personnel in these areas during the exercise. Residents are being advised to avoid the exercise sites and to follow any posted instructions and signs from officials, a county press release stated.

Emergency services and response will not be affected during the exercise.

The exercise, a simulated chemical release caused by a train derailment, will test and evaluate the interoperability, communication and operational readiness of first responders in the event of a large-scale incident, the release stated. All levels of responders and agencies, aided by U.S. Border Patrol, will work together to solve a complex problem.

“This exercise provides a valuable opportunity for our emergency response teams to practice and refine their skills in a controlled environment,” stated Exercise Director U.S. Border Patrol Agent Carlos Ortiz in the release. “The lessons learned will be crucial to enhancing our preparedness for real-world emergencies.”