Arvada Hazmat Drill

Photo Courtesy of Arvada Fire Protection District

 A bioterrorism emergency preparedness and response exercise was held across the metro area and multiple local agencies from October 7th to October 9th, 2025. The event is part of a larger, regional exercise organized by Colorado’s North Central All-Hazards Region. On October 8th, 2025 local agencies participated in the multi-agency hazardous materials training at W. 66th Ave. & Pierce St. in Arvada. The exercise involved several jurisdictions, law enforcement and fire agencies while responding to a mock bioterrorism attack. In the training, responders were dispatched to an incident involving an unknown powder, suspected to be anthrax, in an envelope. During hazmat incidents, firefighters must establish several roles, like entry team, safety, decontamination, and research. Each role or team plays an important part in responder safety, identifying and containing the hazard, and mitigating the incident. This training is an invaluable exercise to coordinate response capabilities, protocols and communications with other agencies.

Participating Departments:

Arvada Fire Protection District, Westminster Fire Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado National Guard

Photo Courtesy of Arvada Fire Protection District

Photo Courtesy of Arvada Fire Protection District

Photo Courtesy of Arvada Fire Protection District

Photo Courtesy of Arvada Fire Protection District

Photo Courtesy of Arvada Fire Protection District

Photo Courtesy of Arvada Fire Protection District

Photo Courtesy of Arvada Fire Protection District

Photo Courtesy of Arvada Fire Protection District

Photo Courtesy of Arvada Fire Protection District