New Maryland tests emergency response
Mock forest fire staged in village

MOCK DISASTER Members of the New Maryland Volunteer Fire Department, along with other emergency responders, took part in a mock disaster exercise involving a forest fire that was threatening homes on Wednesday evening. Above, firefighter Rusty Wambolt lays a line using a hose pack. THE DAILY GLEANER - STEPHEN MACGILLIVRAY PHOTO

A mock wildfire in New Maryland provided many lessons to local emergency personnel Wednesday.

Police, fire, and ambulance crews, along with Department of Natural Resources staff and Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) officials, responded to the mock fire about 5:34 p.m.

The "forest fire," which originated in the Hanwell area, threatened a number of homes near a wooded area of New Maryland. Melba, Bellflower, Berkley, Doherty, Millerton and Sprucewood streets border the area.

Search and rescue crews evacuated people from more than 50 nearby homes while RCMP controlled traffic.

Fire departments in Fredericton, Oromocto, Upper Kingsclear and Fredericton Junction were also on standby.

Firefighters brought the mock fire under control about 7:30 p.m.

"I think it went quite well," said Randy Robinson, manager of community preparedness with New Brunswick's EMO office.

He said the exercise, designed to assess New Maryland's abilities to deal with a forest fire, achieved most of its goals.

He said many aspects of the test went well, including implementation of major parts of the emergency plan such as establishing evacuation reception centres and an emergency command centre.

But New Maryland has a number of areas to improve on, he said.

"Command, control and communications. These are things that need to be worked on and practised," Robinson said.

Equipment was especially a concern, as several radios failed to work properly during the exercise.

Robinson said he believes the exercise gave local emergency officials and responders a good idea of the real thing.

"It gave them a good feel for it," he said. "This is what it's like."

New Maryland Volunteer Fire Department Chief Harry Farrell said he will pay close attention to any recommendations that result from the exercise.

Farrell said he and his department learned many lessons from the experience.

However, he believes the exercise was a success overall.

Farrell said he felt confident in the work of everyone involved in the operation, especially the emergency responders.

He also stressed the importance of the exercise.

"This is important for any community to practise," Farrell said.

He said recent forest fires in Hanwell and Kingsclear are examples of how wildfires can start at any time and close to home.

Farrell said he is concerned about dry forest conditions in the area. He said New Maryland must be prepared to deal with a forest fire.