Emergency Services Complete Evacuation and Fire Drills at Hospital

Residents in Barry’s Bay may have been startled by emergency vehicles flocking to the hospital last night for an evacuation drill.

Madawaska Valley’s Fire Chief Corwin Quade says the drills simulated an evacuation of the St. Francis Memorial Hospital.

Around 25 firefighters, 20 hospital staff, seven fire trucks and other emergency vehicles and personnel took part in the drills.

It simulated a fire, evacuation and tested response times, coordination efforts, technical standards and ability to secure and evacuate the hospital.

Quade says it’s all part of keeping emergency services and hospital staff prepared for anything and assessing any weaknesses in its emergency response framework.