VERGENNES, VT — AUGUST 9 — The City of Vergennes Fire Department carried out training exercises on Otter Creek in collaboration with the Vermont Hazardous Materials Response Team, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency, and the Shelburne Fire Department.The training focused on deploying containment boom from a boat, allowing crews to gain hands-on experience with equipment, positioning, and coordination during a water-based spill response.

The exercise also involved the use of the department’s newly deployed drone.

Personnel received training from the Vermont Department of Public Safety UAS team on-site, giving them experience in operating an unmanned aircraft during emergency operations.

The Vermont Division of Fire Safety stated that the state hazardous materials team assists local fire departments through planning, exercises, and response efforts.

In a separate exercise held in August in Vergennes, state, federal, and private spill-response partners tested oil-spill containment plans for Otter Creek.This training provided participating agencies with an opportunity to practice interagency operations before an actual incident occurred.