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Running from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16, the exercise will bring together a wide array of specialized equipment, interagency partners, and tactical scenarios designed to prepare first responders for real-world emergencies involving hazardous substances, the Yonkers Fire Department said on Tuesday, April 15.
During the drill, the Yonkers Fire Department will deploy all of its HazMat resources, including propane flaring units, advanced leak mitigation equipment, and cutting-edge detection and plume modeling technologies. The scenario is meant to test the department’s operational readiness in a complex and dynamic environment.
Firefighters and emergency personnel have been training on-site throughout the week, with Wednesday marking the culmination of the drill. Key features of the exercise include:
- Controlled propane flaring to simulate explosion prevention;
- Use of real-time weather-integrated plume modeling to track chemical spread;
- Radiation detection units, mobile command centers, and drones for on-site analysis;
- Live leak mitigation demonstrations and decontamination procedures.
"Exercises like this strengthen our preparedness—not just within Yonkers, but across the entire region," said Yonkers Fire Commissioner William Fitzpatrick.
Agencies participating in the operation incldue New York State Fire, Westchester County Department of Emergency Services, and decontamination squads from numerous local fire departments, including New Rochelle, Pelham, White Plains, Mount Vernon, Peekskill, and more.
Residents near the Cross County Shopping Center should be aware of increased emergency activity but are assured it is only a drill.
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