Preparing for a plane crash response with dozens of victims, emergency agencies Wednesday will hold a drill at the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.
The drill, from 10 a.m. to noon, will involve a simulated plane crash with 40-50 victims. Firefighters, paramedics, a hazardous materials team, law enforcement, dispatchers and two helicopters will coordinate how to respond if faced with a real crash and likely many victims.
Such trainings are required by the Federal Aviation Administration every three years.
The airport, northwest of Santa Rosa, is within the Rincon Valley Fire Protection District boundaries. Rincon Valley fire and airport officials are coordinating the drill.
“Having a commercial airport in our jurisdiction is a big responsibility and the public at large should feel safe in knowing that their first responders know how to deal with an aircraft emergency, whatever the scale,” said Rincon Valley Fire Chief Mark Heine in a statement.