IT'S A DRILL: County Hazmat Teams, Morongo FD Train Near Old Casino

Riverside County hazardous materials teams, health officials, and the Morongo Fire Department plan to stage a railroad chemical leak drill near the old Casino Morongo building Wednesday morning.

Emergency crews will begin staging at 9 a.m. at 49500 Seminole Drive, behind the Canyon Lanes at Morongo Bowling Center and the old Casino Morongo, organizers said.

The drill will start at 10 a.m., according to an event schedule.

Emergency vehicles and smoke from the training exercise may be visible to motorists on Interstate 10, county and tribal representatives said in a joint statement.

Organizers expect more than 80 rescue workers total.

"Crews will be dressed in hazmat suits and firefighter turnouts as they practice sealing simulated chemical leaks to a railroad tanker car while draped in smoke," said a joint press release from the Morono Band of Mission Indians, the Countywide HazMat Operations Group, and the Riverside County Department of Public Health.

The Countywide HazMat Operations Group training will include teams from Riverside, Corona, Hemet and Cal-Fire fire departments, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Hazardous Device Team, and Riverside County Environmental Health and Public Health departments.

The Morongo Fire Department's participation makes this the first time the countywide training will include members of a tribal emergency services agency, according to county and tribal representatives.

The joint exercise with the Morongo Fire Department "will provide for greater regional coordination, collaboration and preparedness in the event of actual hazmat emergency," organizers said.

Funding for the training was provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to the county-tribal joint statement.