Had this been an actual emergency …

St. Augustine Fire Chief Mike Arnold reported to Historic City News that residents and onlookers have no reason for concern by all the apparent excitement on the grounds of the Florida School for the Deal and the Blind next week — this is only a test.

A campus building that is slated for future demolition has made possible the simulation of real-life emergency scenarios that would otherwise be difficult to simulate for law enforcement and fire rescue departments from the City of St. Augustine and St. Johns County.

Beginning Monday, June 21st and continuing through Sunday, June 27th; the school, which is located at 207 San Marco Avenue, will become “ground zero” for campus police, paramedics, emergency public safety employees, police and firefighters as a number of dramatic events are created for training purposes.

Because of the nature of next week’s drills, numerous emergency vehicles are likely to be arriving and departing the campus — as if there were an actual emergency.

Theatrical smoke will be used to simulate situations involving fire, tankers will pump water, fire alarms and sirens will sound. Traffic using San Marco Avenue may have intermittent interruptions because of emergency vehicles in the area.

Chief Arnold said, “This is an extraordinary opportunity for various agencies to not only practice, but to do so in a collaborative effort with other departments.” Classes will not be interrupted since students will be off campus next week.

Photo credit: © 2010 Historic City News photographer Kerry McGuire