Disaster At The Bismarck Municipal Airport? Hardly

The day was hot, around 90 degrees - out in the field next to a side runway we could almost feel the heat...

...that was about 100 yards away from us. The flames were brilliant orange, and the plane next to it was about to be overcome. Dramatic as this all sounds, this afternoon was part of an exercise intended to allow area hospitals, fire, police, and emergency preparedness officials, in conjunction with Airport personnel, to practice their emergency roles in response to a simulated aircraft emergency. Every 3 years this is done.

Many people participated in this, including some Nursing students from UMary

To depict and train for a disaster, some participants were needed - to emulate the shocked and wounded -

  Here are Brittany, Matthew, and Tessa - From UMary 

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KX News Reporter was there interviewing the Bismarck Municipal Airport Director Greg Haug ( she did an awesome job  )

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I found this information amazing

Greg told us that there is a fire department inside the confines of the airport - and this place is huge outdoors ( you have no idea ) -  should there be a fire/ accident scene anywhere, the fire department will be on it in less than three minutes. Today I saw numerous police, firefighters, emergency responders, and other agencies doing their best - staying ready and giving us all a closer look at how they can react so quickly to a possible disaster.

HUGE thanks to Greg Haug and Troy Estes for making us feel so comfortable, AND for all the information on what it takes and just how many men and women are involved in taking care of any emergency that could take place

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If you were driving past the airport today and had no idea what that fire off in the distance was all about - rest assured that there are so many situations that have been involved in training - and preparation - we should all be proud of how many people will be there in an instant for all of us.

A final note: 

I was living in San Diego back on September 25, 1978, when a real disaster happened - a plane crash that took 144 lives. There are tortured souls still living that have vivid nightmares almost every night - nobody can even try to imagine the horror - exercises today that took place CAN help someone/some people stay calm and use their training.