Hundreds participate in mock plane crash training exercise in Comox Valley
Hundreds of first responders and military personnel worked together on an exercise for a scenario they hope they will never face in real life.
Numerous agencies cooperated on the mock disaster at Airforce Beach near 19 Wing Comox on Wednesday, called Operation Totem Platinum.
The training exercise simulated an airplane crash with several victims.
The Operation Totem Platinum training exercise is shown. May 17, 2023. (CTV News)"[There are] multiple agencies in the Comox Valley area, but very seldom do we work together, so this exercise is about us learning how to work together in case of a real emergency," said training coordinator captain Eric Germain.
Germain says planning for the event began in September of last year and involved more than 500 people.
"We’re looking at about 20 to 25 civilian agencies, roughly 150 to 200 civilians, and probably another 10 to 15 military agencies and roughly 300 military members," he said.
Along with smoke simulating fire scenes, several "casualty actors" were also used for realism, spread throughout the extensive wreckage area.
One of those portraying a crash survivor was Jennifer Joseph, who works at 19 Wing as an engine technician.
"It’s my first time actually doing this so I’m pretty excited to see how it goes, just act and go have fun with it," she said.
"I’m actually working later today, something fun to do in the morning and then go back to work and talk about it," Joseph said.
The Operation Totem Platinum training exercise is shown. May 17, 2023. (CTV News)Daniel Dielissen is also posing as a victim, complete with extensive makeup.
"We were talking Monday night and [Germain] was like, 'I’ll give you the gnarliest one,' and I was like, 'Yes, sign me up," he said.
The Operation Totem Platinum training exercise is shown. May 17, 2023. (CTV News)The joint exercise was closed to the public and was surrounded by security, not to keep the public out but to maintain an area around the scene as they would do with an actual crash.
Fire departments from Courtenay and Comox, along with marine search and rescue teams, also took part.
The Operation Totem Platinum training exercise is shown. May 17, 2023. (CTV News)Several Emergency Health Services ambulances were also on scene with crews transporting the "victims" to the hospital in Courtenay.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes
Donald Trump became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes Thursday as a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex.
Can Trump come to Canada now that he's a convicted felon?
A Canadian immigration lawyer says now that Donald Trump is a convicted felon, he is technically barred from crossing the border into Canada.
Montreal tech billionaire charged with several sex offences
Robert Miller was charged Thursday with several sexual assault charges after Montreal police reopened an investigation into the tech billionaire.
Police: 3 killed, including suspected gunman, in Minneapolis shooting
Three people, including the suspected gunman, are dead after a shooting Thursday at a Minneapolis apartment complex, police said.
'Why didn't they stop?' Mom asks of driver in hit-and-run crash that killed son
The mother of a 13-year-old boy who was killed in a hit-and-run in Edmonton is begging the driver to come forward.
The northern lights are returning to night skies across Canada this Friday
If you missed the brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, you may have another chance to see them on Friday night.
A pair enjoyed pricey meals and bolted when it was time to pay. Their dine and dash ended in jail
A Welsh couple who dined out on pricey meals and bolted when the bill came is now paying the price, behind bars.
$400K in damages for B.C. woman who had unnecessary mastectomy was 'inordinately high,' court finds
A jury's award of $400,000 to a woman who had a mastectomy after being misdiagnosed with breast cancer has been substantially reduced by B.C.'s highest court, which found the damages were "wholly disproportionate."