Large Scale Fire, EMS, and OEM Drill Held

***Press Release by Chief Peter Aprahamian***

On Sunday, November 2 the Northern Mutual Aid Association (NMAA), comprised of fire and first aid companies from the northern portion of Somerset County and the southern portion of Morris County, conducted a training exercise focusing on Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI).

The exercise was an opportunity for emergency services personnel to test preparedness and operational strategies/tactics as they relate to the threats of WUI. The exercise also served to assist multiple agencies with coordinating WUI efforts to achieve the common goals of life safety and property conservation through protection from and suppression of fire. Emphasis was placed on unified command, communications, accountability, wildland fire suppression, structural fire protection/suppression, water supply, tender water shuttle, EMS, and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) operations. 17 agencies participated in the exercise including 34 pieces of apparatus and 160 Emergency Services Personnel. The exercise took place in two locations, the rear of the Dewey Meadows Shopping Center off King George Road in Bernards Township, and the rear of the Center 78 office complex off Liberty Corner Road in Warren Township.

Participating agencies included Liberty Corner Fire and First Aid, Warren Fire and First Aid, Basking Ridge Fire, Bernardsville Fire and First Aid, Chester Fire, Far Hills-Bedminster Fire and First Aid, Millington Fire, New Jersey State Forest Fire, Peapack-Gladstone Fire, Pottersville Fire, Stirling Fire, Bernards OEM, Warren OEM, Bedminster OEM, Bernardsville OEM, Peapack-Gladstone OEM, and Somerset County OEM and Fire Coordinators.

The NMAA would like to thank the property owners at Dewey Meadows and Center 78 for allowing us to conduct this training exercise on their property, Somerset County for use of the County Mobile Command Post and all the Emergency Service Personnel for the time and effort they dedicated to this important exercise.

Peter Aprahamian
Chief
Liberty Corner Fire Company