Firefighters often go into dangerous situations with very little information to prepare them for what they are walking into. But it’s not always the visual dangers that could cost firefighters their lives. While hazardous material incidents are rare, they pose significant risks. When they do occur, first responders must quickly identify the substances involved and understand their potential dangers to protect lives.

That’s why, on Tuesday night, West End Fire & Rescue hosted a hazardous material training exercise at the Foxfire Country Club. The scenario simulated a critical situation in which deadly chemical vapors were spreading from the golf course maintenance shed. To heighten the urgency, the simulation also involved a worker that was unconscious beside the barrel the chemicals were in. Organizers wanted to make it as realistic as possible by using a smoke machine and a fire dummy to enhance the training experience.

The evening began with a briefing at the West End fire station on Highway 73, where firefighters from Aberdeen, Pinehurst, Pinebluff, Seven Lakes, and West End along with a Foxfire Police officer gathered to participate. During the briefing, organizers provided only basic instructions, withholding many details to make the scenario more realistic. Afterward, everyone headed to the Foxfire area, standing by for the training dispatch.

The commanding firefighter immediately initiated a response plan for the training, calling for mutual aid from surrounding stations and ordering the evacuation of nearby buildings. Meanwhile, a small team of firefighters suited up with full protective gear, including oxygen masks, preparing to begin the rescue operation once they identified the chemical and assessed its potential hazards.

Within minutes, the team established hose lines to use water to redirect the chemical vapors away from the rescue zone. As they worked to retrieve the fire dummy representing the unconscious employee, another team conducted a thorough search for any additional victims in the area. Once the dummy was safely removed from the hazardous zone, it was transported to a designated decontamination area, before being loaded into an ambulance.

After completing the rescue operation, the participants gathered at the Foxfire clubhouse to discuss the steps necessary for long-term hazard mitigation, reviewing their response and identifying areas for improvement to enhance future emergency preparedness.