St. Marys Firefighters, Perth County Paramedics and Stratford Police team up for training exercise

On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, the St. Marys Fire Department, in collaboration with Stratford Police, and Perth County Paramedics conducted a full-scale emergency training exercise.

The exercise, which was held to enhance the preparedness and effectiveness of first responders, was designed to simulate a two-vehicle motor vehicle collision, involving multiple casualties that had to be extricated from the vehicles and transferred to an ambulance for medical care.

“These drills are a crucial part of our commitment to ensuring the safety of the community and the coordinated response of our first responders,” says Fire Chief Richard “Andy” Anderson. “By simulating challenging and high-pressure situations, we can assess and enhance our readiness to protect the lives and well-being of our citizens.”

“The safety of our community and our ability to respond in a time of crisis is our top priority,” Anderson continues. “Full-scale emergency exercises are an invaluable tool for training and preparing all our first responders to react swiftly and effectively in high-stress situations. It is through these drills that we fine-tune our response strategies and ensure that our emergency personnel are fully equipped to handle any critical incident.”

The drill involved a multi-agency response and tested the coordination and communication between St. Marys, Stratford and Perth County emergency services. It provided an opportunity for participants to evaluate their actions, identify areas for improvement, and refine emergency response protocols.

“We want to thank the students who volunteered to participate as actors in this exercise and to Kent Robson of Robson Scrap Metal Limited for the donation of vehicles.” said Anderson.

For more information on the St. Marys Fire Department and training, visit their website at townofstmarys.com/fire. or contact Fire Chief Richard “Andy” Anderson at 519-274-2340, ext. 201.

- 30 –

For media inquiries:
Richard “Andy” Anderson, Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief
519-284-2340, ext. 201 | randerson@town.stmarys.on.ca