Montana agencies train in crash drill to speed emergency response

POWER, Mont. — Agencies from Cascade and Teton Counties joined the Montana Air National Guard in Power for an emergency response exercise built around a simulated C-130 crash in a drop zone area.

The drill brought together first responders and law enforcement to practice how they would handle a major accident. Local EMS treated injured people while the local sheriff’s department carried out a wide search for people who were deceased.

Montana Air National Guard Fire Department Captain Brett Whitmore said exercises like this helped agencies work through their roles and build working relationships before a real emergency happened.

"When an accident does happen it's not the first time we’re meeting people and we kind of expect what’s going to go on," Whitmore said.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, there had been nearly 450 aviation accidents this year. In Montana, there had been less than 10 aviation accidents.

Montana Air National Guard Commander Lt. Col. Jason Steichen said he wanted first responders and local agencies ready to react as quickly as possible if an accident happened.

From start to finish, crews responded, treated patients and cleared the area in about an hour.