For the observant passenger or driver of a vehicle last week in Bridgeport that happened to be going past the Main Street fire department, they may have been a bit alarmed. After all, there’s a chance they may have seen smoke from behind the building and were likely wondering why some people were dressed in hazmat suits and why others were being sprayed down.

 

The good news is that there was no emergency situation. The really good news is what was taking place was aimed at decreasing the chance that an emergency situation will arise or won’t escalate if one does.

 

On Monday, May 8, a joint training exercise was held with the Bridgeport Fire Department Staff and Pratt & Whitney Engine Services, which is based on property at the North Central West Virginia Airport. Several individuals from the city and from Pratt & Whitney took part in training aimed at making sure how everyone knows how to handle a situation if one should arise.

 

Pratt & Whitney’s Steve Gissy, who was at the training, said the training idea comes from decades early. He said in 1987 a large plant expansion was done and new, modified equipment that required the use of certain materials that in an unexpected situation could create a hazard.

 

“(Some places at are facility) use a lot of nasty stuff and we knew there was potential to be able to train people on site in the event the City of Bridgeport wasn’t able to be able to get there at the snap of a finger we could take care of it until they get there,” said Gissy, who is a certified technician.

 

The members of Pratt & Whitney’s emergency response team are volunteers, Gissy said. The group that showed up last week were actually receiving training above and beyond what most team members receive, he said.

 

During the most recent exercise, the group from Pratt was not told what they were encountering nor were they told any of the circumstances. Basically, those on hand knew they would enter the Bridgeport burn building situated behind the Main Street station that is used for training.

 

Once inside, workers were presented with a major chemical accident. The scenario had the accident start from a small leak in a barrel that led to the notification of the Pratt emergency response team.

 

In short order the team enters not knowing what to expect. What they find in the burn building, is a smoke filled room and small fire near other chemicals. The team leaves the building, then contacts Bridgeport’s Hazmat team to assist.

 

It’s during the group’s re-entry they notice two injured workers in peril due to the chemical fire. The individuals, life sized dummies in this case, are removed. The rescue eventually leads the workers and those rescued to a decontamination area. From that point, treatment and other procedures are followed.

 

Captain Steve Gallo of the Bridgeport Fire Department said it’s an excellent tool – and a valuable one – that Pratt has undertaken.

 

“They have their own internal emergency response team. They come down in a cross-training effort for us to be prepared for an emergency with them, but for them to be prepared for an emergency on their own,” said Gallo. “ … We’re familiar with their operations and they’re familiar with ours.

 

“They have a high hazard area with what they do by nature,” Gallo continued. “This training is crucial. Plus, they’re one of the leading companies in our area that stays up on their emergency response team training.”

 

Gallo said there are a few other companies that do training with the Bridgeport Fire Department. He added that Pratt & Whitney is one of the most regular training partners.

 

“This prepares us not only for an incident at their facility, but this also helps for the other aircraft industries in our area,” Gallo said. “The way that industry grows, as more industry comes we’re more prepared and ready for the challenge.”

 

Gissy said training with the city will continue.

 

“We work very close with Bridgeport and they work close with us,” he ended.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows hazmat suits being put on as the situation is determined to be dangerous, while the second photo shows a Pratt worker surveying the scene through the smoke, while the third photo shows a worker being cleaned after exiting the building. Bottom photo shows a Pratt & Whitney worker, far left with flashlight, looking at the burning barrels.