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A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 32 No. Exercise Dakota tests _ emergency crews By HOWARD MOZEL Oakville Beaver Staff didn‘t rain. The organizers of Thursday‘s mock disaster "Exercise Dakota" had plenty to contend with withâ€" out getting wet in the process. Still, the staged accident between two buses and a propane tanker â€" and the subsequent response by Halton‘s emergency services â€" was frigid and windy and tested everyone‘s endurance from fireâ€" fighters to the press. The event, which was centred on the Shell Lands north of New Street on Burloak Drive, was held to test the Emergency Plan for the Region of Halton while allowing individual agencies to gauge their own emergency preâ€" paredness. Things got underway around 9 am. when students of Niagara College‘s Ambulance program â€" looking as though they‘d susâ€" tained serious injuries â€" boarded a rusted Oakville Transit vehicle and a yellow school bus. In front sat a Superior Propane truck donated for the day by the comâ€" pany. Official observers (many of whom were definitely not preâ€" pared for the cold) huddled at a safe distance waiting for the show to begin. Then, at 9:39 a.m., Steve Beatty, Halton‘s Emergency Planning Coâ€"ordinator, called in the accident and set in motion the mobilization of police, fire, ambulance and related emergenâ€" cy services. . The first police cruiser arrived on the scene at 9:51 a.m. At 10:03, the first fire trucks appeared but kept their distance at New Street and Burloak. A lone firefighter armed only with an airâ€"quality tester slowly advanced up the street followed odies, danger, a potential explosion and plenty of confusion â€" but at least it Oakville firefighters hose down a Superior Propane truck during Exercise Dakota Thursday morning(above) while Kieran Ballah, of Cambridge Ambulance Service, applies makeup to ‘victim‘ Jill Cunningham, of Niagara College, prior to the exercise. (Photos by Peter McCusker) by a fire truck. At 10:15 a.m., as hoses were being hooked up, those "victims" that could walk were ordered out and hustled away from the scene by firemen. die!") screams, aimless wanderâ€" ing and confrontations with fireâ€" fighters and police as they implored them to help their stricken friends. For their part, the firemen warned the victims not to do anything that would cause a spark. The Niagara students played their parts to the hilt with pleas for help ("We‘re all going to Two fallen bodies (a pair of Contest closes July 31, 1994. Contest Cl’lfis available while supg!ies last. No purchase necessari.nComplele Jbgntest rulés Availableat participdting TimHorions. Roll Up the Rim® contest exclusive to Tiny Hortons. Now you can win one of up to 10 Ford Mustang GT convertibles, 500 Toshiba 27" televisions, 2000 Tim Hortons Coffee Lover‘s Kits, or the more than 5,000,000 Instant Win Prizes available, when you roll up the rim on a contest cup at your neighbourhood Tim Hortons. CPR dummies) lay sprawled on the ground, one between the propane truck and the buses, the other right underneath the Oakville Transit vehicle. By 10:30 a.m. the injured who remained on the buses were still screaming for help as fireâ€" fighters began hosing the site down. Those moved to Burloak had yet to receive any medical attention and some even returned to help rescue their pals. One hauled a dummy from a bus and argued with a firefighter for help. The student was removed and FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1994 (See ‘Power‘ page 9) 44 Pages 75 Cents (GST included) Serving Oakville for Over 30 years, Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. *Sunday 12 Noon to 5:00 p.m. (*Not all stores may be open) Located at 3rd Line and Rebecca in Oakville +827â€"0220+ Hopedale Mail Ring of Fire Just in case you happened to miss Wednesday afternoon‘s stunning annular eclipse, Oakville Beaver photographer Peter McCusker was able to capture it on film. N. JOâ€"ANN MCKINNON BSc.D.V.M. MRCVS S .. " 3387387 Total Care for Companion Animals Canadian Publications Mail Product Agreement #435â€"201 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS The Bay Page 12 Ballet dancer Back where he belongs