Firefighters from across the region participated in a live train derailment exercise in Morris on the weekend.  The event involved a scenario in which a train car carrying hazardous material had run off the tracks in the community and subsequently caught fire.
    
Morris Fire Chief Wes Zilkie explained there were four objectives they were hoping to achieve through the exercise. The first was to ensure they could maintain the accountability of all the firefighters on scene from multiple agencies.  The other objectives were to practice radio communications, practice the application of foam, as well as to go through a HAZMAT scenario.

Zilkie says the derailment exercise is meant to provide fire crews with the skills to deal with a situation that could happen, but they hope never does.

The situation involved the participation of the regional HAZMAT team based in Winkler. "It's a highly specialized team," said Winkler Deputy Fire Chief, Phil Dueck.  "Currently the highest level of training available to us in Manitoba."

The Morris Fire Department hosted the exercise, which included fire crews from the RM of Morris, St. Malo, St. Pierre, St. Jean, Letellier, Emerson, Dominion City, Altona, and Winkler.