Quinte West Fire and Rescue participated in their annual emergency exercise on Wednesday, October 9.
The day began around 8 a.m. and focused on the Trent River and the simulation of a pipeline break that was spreading downriver.
The exercise had participation from partners such as Trans-Northern Pipeline, Quinte West OPP, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Canada, Parks Canada, CANUTEC and more. Representatives from Shell, Esso and Enbridge were also there as observers, as well as members of CFB Trenton.
Fire Chief John Whalen says overall it was a good day and they learned a lot.
He says the technology surrounding pipelines is quite vast and they would alert the right people very quickly if there were ever an issue with a pipeline in the area. There are a number of safeguards in place as well.
Whalen credited Trans-Northern for putting on a good scenario and for making sure safety of all the participants was paramount.
He said what was learned will be brought back to the departments and to a future mutual aid meeting to share what they learned in this exercise.
The event was wrapped up around 2 p.m. and a lengthy debriefing saw the day end around 5 p.m.
Whalen said the past two days were stressful, but provided valuable insight to what would occur if the area were to ever have a pipeline failure.
Participants in the Quinte West emergency exercise at the Ontario Street boat launch. The Trent River was a major focus in the event which was meant to simulate a pipeline failure. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison was also thrilled with how the two day event proceeded.
He said there were over 160 people involved from city staff in the finance and planning departments, to corporate representatives from as far away as London, England.
“It was a great experience,” Harrison told Quinte News once the day wrapped up. “It assures you and I that if something were to happen we can deal with it, and work with those who will help resolve it.”
He explained the scenario had the water intake to the Trenton Water Treatment Plant shut down following a diesel leak, leaving city officials having to find alternate ways to provide water to the city.
“We learned we have the water supply to feed most of the city,” and he said if that were to ever become a reality,”We can pull water from Bayside. There would be some adjustments we’d have to make but we could do it.”
Harrison also said this emergency exercise showed that the city and staff, along with various other resources involved, can do what they say they can do.
“We are prepared. We know who to call and what groups to bring together,” he said. “This exercise shows this one particular emergency we are prepared to deal with.”
He said he was very glad the exercise was done in Quinte West.
Participants in the Quinte West emergency exercise on the Trent River. The Trent River was a major focus in the event which was meant to simulate a pipeline failure. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
Booms could be seen along the Trent River at the Ontario Street boat launch as part of Quinte West’s emergency exercise. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
