Harry Reid airport is required by the FAA to complete a full-scale emergency exercise, known as a triennial, once every three years in order to maintain their certification. 

LAS partnered with emergency responders from agencies around the valley to conduct the triennial in September.  In the event of a real incident, the agencies would be working hand-in-hand. The exercise allows those involved to practice their skills and responses together, in a training environment. 

A mock disaster complete with smoke, sirens, victim actors and emergency vehicles was staged on the airfield. Fire, police and rescue personnel coordinated their response with airport staff, just as they would during a real-world event. 

Additionally, ambulances were used to transport the injured from the scene. 

A key element of the drill is community-wide participation. While airport personnel and LAS firefighters regularly train for aircraft incidents, other agencies do not. Emergency responders unaccustomed to working in an airport setting gain experience knowledge and the exercise reinforces their ability to work in a stressful, unfamiliar situation. 

Representatives from participating agencies watched and responded to the incident from within the airport’s emergency operations center.  Public information officers were in close communication to sort out facts and practice their skills at coordinating responses to media inquiries, social media rumors and questions, and crafting a mock press release. 

The full-scale simulation was staged on a location within the airport to enhance realism, but far enough removed to minimize any impact on regular operations. 

Watch the video below to see the exercise in action!