This is only a drill: Emergency crews to converge on Pangborn Oct. 1

EAST WENATCHEE — An increased presence of emergency vehicles and personnel at Pangborn Memorial Airport all day on Oct. 1 will be part of a planned regional training exercise, the Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority announced.

The exercise, called Tri-ACE, will bring airport staff and local and regional response agencies together to practice responding to a simulated emergency. The Port emphasized that the activity is a drill.

Scheduled commercial air service is not expected to be affected. Passengers should arrive for their flights as they normally would, and airport operations will continue throughout the exercise.

“Exercises like this allow our airport team and regional response partners to work through how we would respond together during an actual emergency,” said Trent Moyers, the Port’s director of airports. “The goal is to practice those procedures in a controlled environment and strengthen the coordination that would be critical during a real event.”

Community members may see fire, law enforcement, emergency medical and other response vehicles traveling to and from the airport, along with personnel and equipment on airport property.

The exercise will allow airport personnel and regional partners to test emergency procedures and work through how resources would be deployed during an actual incident.

Airport staff, fire and emergency medical services, law enforcement, emergency management and healthcare providers will practice their respective roles, including the communication and resource sharing needed to coordinate a response across multiple agencies and jurisdictions.

Participating organizations include Airlift Northwest, Life Flight Network, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management, Wenatchee Valley Fire Department, Lifeline Ambulance, Ballard Ambulance, American Red Cross, Confluence Health, Washington Army National Guard, Horizon Air and Wenatchee School District.

The Port said the exercise supports its strategic plan’s emphasis on airport operational readiness and regional collaboration.

Questions about the exercise may be directed to Moyers at trent@cdrpa.org or 509-884-4700.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media