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   The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Service Board conducted a highly successful Full-Scale Emergency Exercise at the Pine River Fairgrounds on Wed., Sept. 10. The exercise ran from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 3:00 p.m. and was designed to test training, coordination, and emergency response actions to a simulated real-world incident.

   The scenario included multiple components such as victims, hazardous materials release, vehicle extrication, and interagency coordination. Over 75 participants and 18 student actors took part in the exercise, including local fire departments, law enforcement, county public health, volunteers, and other county, regional, and state partners.

   The event was a great success, demonstrating strong interagency collaboration and valuable real-time problem solving. It provided an excellent opportunity for responders to test their skills, equipment, and communication protocols in a realistic, controlled environment.

   For residents near the Pine River Fairgrounds, officials had emphasized ahead of time that this was only an exercise. No actual chemical was released, and no real emergency existed. All evacuations were simulated using trained actors. Cass County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public for their understanding and cooperation during the event, especially those who adjusted travel plans or avoided the area.

   Departments that participated in the exercise will receive a copy of the After-Action Report and Improvement Plan. This document will help identify strengths, as well as areas for improvement, to guide future training and preparedness efforts. Exercises like these are vital to ensuring our emergency response capabilities remain sharp, coordinated, and effective in protecting the public during real emergencies.

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