Emergency responders from 16 East Tennessee counties are participating in a two day hazardous materials exercise in Knoxville this week.  The 45th Civil Support Team of the National Guard is coordinating the multi-agency training event.   The 45th is the state agency which would respond to any weapons of mass destruction incident, so it is important for the different agencies to become familiar with all of the other agencies’ equipment.

Wednesday will be spent conducting presentations on equipment, answering questions, and planning Thursday’s exercise.  The Knoxville Fire Department is hosting this event at its Academy off Prossor Road beginning at 8:00 a.m.

Thursday’s exercise begins at 9:00 a.m. on Outlets Drive in West Knox County.   The training exercise will concentrate on an incident involving a weapon of mass destruction.

Contacts for the media are Assistant Chief Robert Sexton of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Chief Jeff Devlin of Rural/Metro.  Both will be available at the scene for print and broadcast interviews.