Emergency response exercise at Bellingham International Airport

September 8, 2023 at 5:21 p.m.

Firefighters talk with each other after wrapping up their responsibilities during the emergency exercise at Bellingham International Airport on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. **(Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)**

The airport's Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting truck waits behind an ambulance and WTA bus. **(Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)**

Volunteer victims wait for help in the triage area during the emergency exercise on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. **(Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)**

A volunteer victim laughs with a first responder while being moved on gurney away from the scene. The airport emergency exercise was conducted on Friday, Sept, 8, 2023. **(Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)**

A volunteer crash "victim" shows a card that lists their symptoms to a supervisor before getting on a WTA bus to be transported to the hospital. **(Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)**

Dave Bestle, left, and Airport Operations Manager Alex Young chat during the exercise. **(Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)**

A volunteer "victim" with fake leg wounds is wheeled away by first responders during an airport emergency exercise in 2023. **(Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)**

Bellingham Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Dave Parker observes the exercise at the airport. **(Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)**

Members of the Bellingham Fire Department, American Red Cross, and Community Emergency Response Team worked together to portray the aftermath of a fictional plane crash at Bellingham International Airport in September 2023. The exercise included practice for initial response, triage, and transportation of victims as well as general multi-agency coordination.