Photo Gallery: Local Law Enforcement Simulates Disasters

Local law enforcement agencies came together in Roseville Thursday to practice emergency disaster procedures in a Multi Casualty Incident drill.

The simulated disaster scene in west Roseville came in two forms: In one area, a school bus overturned with 40 victims on the bus; in another area, a vehicular tank accident released a cloud of anhydrous ammonia, which is a hazardous gas. 

Sherm Hawkins with Cal Fire said the mock bus rollover is one opportunity to work with other local law enforcement as a team. Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln and Penryn fire departments worked alongside Cal Fire to assist in Thursday's drill.

A large portion of the bus was cut to create a doorway for emergency personnel to more easily reach victims. Their first task was to determine who on the bus is in the most critical condition, Hawkins said. From there, they transported victims from the bus to an area on the open field; then they were transported to local hospitals for treatment.

The second piece of the mock disaster involved a hazardous gas that would drift to the northeast parts of western Roseville, the unincorporated areas of Placer County and Rocklin. Many on the overturned bus would become casualties. As some public safety agencies tended to the injured, others worked to stop the tank car from leaking gas.

In the simulated disaster, the ammonia was headed to William Jessup University in Roseville. Dee Dee Gunther with the Roseville Police Department said they would practice emergency and evacuation procedures, as well as set up a decontamination unit for students.

“Drills like this are critical to our response agencies for maintaining readiness and the necessary skills needed for equipment and systems not used on a daily basis, for developing and sustaining relationships, and for testing new capabilities that, indeed, may prove worthy investments should increasingly scarce funding become available," Rui Cunha, Placer County’s Assistant Director of Emergency Services said in a news release.

Volunteers acted as victims. The Multi Casualty Incident drill continues Thursday afternoon near Roseville Fire Station No. 8 off Winding Creek Way.