Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field will be the site of a full-scale exercise from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm this coming Saturday, September 15th.
The emergency scenario will simulate a Boeing 737 aircraft accident near the airport, west of Creekside West Bar & Grill. A passenger bus will be used to represent the downed aircraft.
“The goal is to make sure first responders are able to respond to a variety of aircraft accidents at the airport,” said Assistant Mayor Dulce Gutierrez, who chairs the Council’s Public Safety Committee. “The training will help ensure airport safety for passengers and the community.”
There will be about 70 volunteers at the simulated crash site replicating a variety of injuries. First responders will treat the simulated injuries and triage them to Astria Regional Medical Center and Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital.
“People will see a variety of emergency response vehicles responding to and encompassing the exercise site,” said Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field Director Rob Peterson. “However, it will only be an exercise so there’s no need for the public to be worried. Flights will continue as scheduled and will not be impacted by the exercise.”
Traffic impacts due to the 4-hour exercise will include closing Washington Avenue between 40th Avenue and 48th Avenue, as well as a few roads within the Creekside West restaurant development. Customers will have access to the restaurant when it opens at 11:00 am this Saturday.
The full-scale exercise is required every three years for the Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field to remain current with Federal Aviation Administration standards, said Peterson.
This Saturday’s exercise will take place in partnership with the Yakima Fire Department, Yakima Police Department, Yakima Valley Office of Emergency Management, Airlift Northwest, Alaska Airlines, and the American Red Cross.
For more about Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field, visit https://flyykm.com/