Emergency Response Drill at Martha's Vineyard Airport
Buses were used to simulated a crashed 50-passenger aircraft.
Buses were used to simulated a crashed 50-passenger aircraft.
Island first responders gather at airport for emergency drill.
Island first responders gather at airport for emergency drill.
Nearly every agency on the Island participated in the exercise.
Nearly every agency on the Island participated in the exercise.
Geoffrey Freeman, left, helps direct activity.
Geoffrey Freeman, left, helps direct activity.
Cub scouts and high school students among those who posed as victims.
Cub scouts and high school students among those who posed as victims.
Some actors posing as victims were under debris.
Some actors posing as victims were under debris.
Smoke added to realism of the scene.
Smoke added to realism of the scene.
At work on a pretend patient.
At work on a pretend patient.
Airport officials said the drill was a good test of emergency response systems.
Airport officials said the drill was a good test of emergency response systems.
Doughnuts for everyone.
Doughnuts for everyone.
Real water, though not a real fire.
Real water, though not a real fire.
Oak Bluffs fire chief John Rose surveys the scene.
Oak Bluffs fire chief John Rose surveys the scene.
Manuel F. Correllus state forest was backdrop to the drill.
Manuel F. Correllus state forest was backdrop to the drill.
Suited up and ready for action.
Suited up and ready for action.
Rolling up the hoses at the end of the dril.
Rolling up the hoses at the end of the dril.
Island police, fire, and emergency personnel worked with the Martha's Vineyard Airport to stage an emergency response drill on Sunday morning. With faux victims identified by makeup and buses taking the place of a downed aircraft, responders from around the Island practiced their response to a mass-casualty incident. The drills are required once every three years by the Federal Aviation Administration.