This afternoon there was a mass causality incident drill in which multiple fire and EMS agencies along with the three area hospitals took part.
The scene was an overturned tour bus with approximately 25 patients. Responders came from Fire District 12, Fire District 11, Fire District 4, Albion Fire Department, Pullman Fire Department, and Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport Fire Department. The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office and Lifeflight also participated in this drill.
The Incident Commander was FD12 Captain Eric Gibson.
I had the opportunity to shoot the photographs during the drill.
Firefighter Marv Pillers (an assistant for this drill) is inside the overturned bus with the simulated patients.
Firefighter Marv Pillers (an assistant for this drill) is inside the overturned bus with the simulated patients.
A view of one of the simulated patients inside of the overturned bus.
A view of one of the simulated patients inside of the overturned bus.
The overturned bus prior to the start of the MCI drill.
The overturned bus prior to the start of the MCI drill.
FD12 fire apparatus 12-15 was one of the first arriving units to the scene.
FD12 fire apparatus 12-15 was one of the first arriving units to the scene.
Initial arriving firefighters are overwhelmed with the number of simulated patients.
Initial arriving firefighters are overwhelmed with the number of simulated patients.
Simulated "walking wounded" patients are meandering around the scene upon the arrival of the firefighters.
Simulated "walking wounded" patients are meandering around the scene upon the arrival of the firefighters.
Firefighters start to arrive at the overturned bus.
Firefighters start to arrive at the overturned bus.
Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson, stands beside Rescue 32.
Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson, stands beside Rescue 32.
Firefighters triage the simulated patients with triage tags.
Firefighters triage the simulated patients with triage tags.
A firefighter assists a simulated "walking wounded" patient to safety.
A firefighter assists a simulated "walking wounded" patient to safety.
Firefighters bring medical equipment to deal with all the simulated patients.
Firefighters bring medical equipment to deal with all the simulated patients.
Firefighters bring extrication equipment to cut open the bus.
Firefighters bring extrication equipment to cut open the bus.
Several emergency apparatus can be seen lined up behind the overturned bus.
Several emergency apparatus can be seen lined up behind the overturned bus.
Several emergency apparatus are visible at a MCI drill.
Several emergency apparatus are visible at a MCI drill.
A crew of firefighters arrive on scene of the MCI.
A crew of firefighters arrive on scene of the MCI.
Newly arriving firefighters do a face-to-face to Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson.
Newly arriving firefighters do a face-to-face to Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson.
Two firefighters in the triage area tending to several simulated patients.
Two firefighters in the triage area tending to several simulated patients.
A firefighter has his hands full with multiple simulated patients.
A firefighter has his hands full with multiple simulated patients.
A line of emergency apparatus from multiple agencies are visible during an MCI drill.
A line of emergency apparatus from multiple agencies are visible during an MCI drill.
Firefighter Ian Turner checks on simulated patients inside of a bus.
Firefighter Ian Turner checks on simulated patients inside of a bus.
Firefighters quickly walk a simulated patient on a backboard to a waiting ambulance.
Firefighters quickly walk a simulated patient on a backboard to a waiting ambulance.
Firefighters lift a simulated patient secured to a backboard on to a cot for transport.
Firefighters lift a simulated patient secured to a backboard on to a cot for transport.
Firefighters prepare to load a simulated patient into an ambulance.
Firefighters prepare to load a simulated patient into an ambulance.
Firefighters work prepare to load a simulated patient into an ambulance.
Firefighters work prepare to load a simulated patient into an ambulance.
A simulated patient looks on as another simulated patient is loaded into an ambulance.
A simulated patient looks on as another simulated patient is loaded into an ambulance.
Firefighters starting the process of removing simulated patients from the overturned bus.
Firefighters starting the process of removing simulated patients from the overturned bus.
Firefighters assist a simulated patient out of the overturned bus.
Firefighters assist a simulated patient out of the overturned bus.
Firefighters swarm the scene of the bus accident during an MCI drill.
Firefighters swarm the scene of the bus accident during an MCI drill.
Although there are several ambulances lined up there are more simulated patients than the ambulances on scene can transport to the hospital.
Although there are several ambulances lined up there are more simulated patients than the ambulances on scene can transport to the hospital.
A simulated "walking wounded" patient is tended to by firefighters.
A simulated "walking wounded" patient is tended to by firefighters.
FF Krieger along with other firefighters are outnumbered by simulated patients in the triage area.
FF Krieger along with other firefighters are outnumbered by simulated patients in the triage area.
FF Krieger in the triage area.
FF Krieger in the triage area.
Firefighters wheel a cot to a waiting ambulance.
Firefighters wheel a cot to a waiting ambulance.
A group of firefighters carry a simulated patient on a backboard.
A group of firefighters carry a simulated patient on a backboard.
FF Krieger along with other firefighters are outnumbered by the simulated patients in the triage area.
FF Krieger along with other firefighters are outnumbered by the simulated patients in the triage area.
Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson, along with Pullman Fire Chief Mike Heston and Public Information Officer Glenn Johnson.
Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson, along with Pullman Fire Chief Mike Heston and Public Information Officer Glenn Johnson.
FF Oppegaard and FF Turner making their way into the overturned bus.
FF Oppegaard and FF Turner making their way into the overturned bus.
Firefighters from multiple agencies work together to extricate a simulated patient from an overturned bus.
Firefighters from multiple agencies work together to extricate a simulated patient from an overturned bus.
Firefighters packaging a simulated patient pulled from the overturned bus while firefighters in the distance deal with many more simulated patients in the triage area.
Firefighters packaging a simulated patient pulled from the overturned bus while firefighters in the distance deal with many more simulated patients in the triage area.
Firefighters "package" a simulated patient.
Firefighters "package" a simulated patient.
Lifeflight's helicopter over the scene.
Lifeflight's helicopter over the scene.
Lifeflight's helicopter circling around the scene before landing. (The bird says "Medstar" but it now belongs to Lifeflight after the two companies merged).
Lifeflight's helicopter circling around the scene before landing. (The bird says "Medstar" but it now belongs to Lifeflight after the two companies merged).
Lifeflight's helicopter a foot off the ground during landing.
Lifeflight's helicopter a foot off the ground during landing.
Firefighters tend to simulated patients in the triage area.
Firefighters tend to simulated patients in the triage area.
Media members Evan Ellis and Josh Babcock speak to Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson, while the events are unfolding.
Media members Evan Ellis and Josh Babcock speak to Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson, while the events are unfolding.
Media members Evan Ellis and Josh Babcock speak to Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson, while the events are unfolding.
Media members Evan Ellis and Josh Babcock speak to Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson, while the events are unfolding.
Several patients in the triage area with a number of firefighters helping them.
Several patients in the triage area with a number of firefighters helping them.
FF Marv Pillers looks through the front window of the bus.
FF Marv Pillers looks through the front window of the bus.
A simulated patient is being prepped for placement on Lifeflight's cot.
A simulated patient is being prepped for placement on Lifeflight's cot.
Lifeflight's crew and firefighters work with a large number of simulated patients.
Lifeflight's crew and firefighters work with a large number of simulated patients.
Firefighters working in the triage group discussing patient care.
Firefighters working in the triage group discussing patient care.
FF Oppegaard talking to Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson.
FF Oppegaard talking to Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson.
Several simulated patients are waiting for help during the MCI drill.
Several simulated patients are waiting for help during the MCI drill.
FF Domreis is explaining something to FF Krieger.
FF Domreis is explaining something to FF Krieger.
FF Domries was a member of the extrication team.
FF Domries was a member of the extrication team.
Lt. Parrish listens to FF Krieger.
Lt. Parrish listens to FF Krieger.
Firefighters tend to a simulated patient, placing her on a cot.
Firefighters tend to a simulated patient, placing her on a cot.
A simulated patient is loaded into Lifeflight's bird.
A simulated patient is loaded into Lifeflight's bird.
Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson, reviews information on his incident command board.
Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson, reviews information on his incident command board.
Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson, issues orders via the radio.
Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson, issues orders via the radio.
Firefighters tend to simulated patients in triage.
Firefighters tend to simulated patients in triage.
FF Krieger and FF Domreis.
FF Krieger and FF Domreis.
Firefighters discuss patient care.
Firefighters discuss patient care.
Local Fire and EMS agencies working a bus accident with multiple patients.
Incident Commander, FD12 Captain Eric Gibson.
After all the patients have been extricated from the bus all the remains are the tools and the law enforcement who is helping to block the scene from vehicle traffic.
After all the patients have been extricated from the bus all the remains are the tools and the law enforcement who is helping to block the scene from vehicle traffic.
City of Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson (who doubles as the Pullman Fire Department's Public Information Officer) is on scene to assist.
City of Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson (who doubles as the Pullman Fire Department's Public Information Officer) is on scene to assist.
Firefighter Joe Branson in front of Rescue 32.
Firefighter Joe Branson in front of Rescue 32.
A cot is rolled into a triage area with several simulated patients waiting to go to the hospital.
A cot is rolled into a triage area with several simulated patients waiting to go to the hospital.
A view of the overturned bus from the top of Pullman Fire Department's Rescue 32.
A view of the overturned bus from the top of Pullman Fire Department's Rescue 32.
Firefighters load a simulated patient into the back of the ambulance.
Firefighters load a simulated patient into the back of the ambulance.
FD12 Captain Eric Gibson was the Incident Commander for this drill. In this photo Pullman Fire Chief Mike Heston and FD12 Captain Mike Lehmitz are visible in his sunglasses.
FD12 Captain Eric Gibson was the Incident Commander for this drill. In this photo Pullman Fire Chief Mike Heston and FD12 Captain Mike Lehmitz are visible in his sunglasses.
FF Krieger and FF Domreis listening to Lt. Parrish.
FF Krieger and FF Domreis listening to Lt. Parrish
Annie Pillers and Chris Scharer talking over lunch at the debriefing.
Annie Pillers and Chris Scharer talking over lunch at the debriefing.
Randy Miller and David Buckley from Colfax Fire and Rescue in the debriefing.
Randy Miller and David Buckley from Colfax Fire and Rescue in the debriefing.
