NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION -- Agencies from various base and community organizations came together for a hazardous materials exercise here Sept. 1.

The exercise kicked off at 9 a.. when base security forces members “found” a suspicious package. The exercise showcased the interoperability of base and local first responder units in a simulated “dirty bomb” scenario.

Staff Sgt. Joseph Kulczyk, 914th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team member, was a participant in the exercise. His role was to follow from a safe distance as the EOD team chief approached the bomb.

If anything were to happen to the team chief,” Kulczyk said, “if he gets injured or blown up, I’d rush in drag him to a safe area and take him to the decontamination area.”

Kulczyk said that EOD practices an exercise like this on an annual basis but that this is the first time, to his knowledge, where so many contributing agencies were involved.

Participating members included 914th security forces, fire department, civil engineer emergency management, explosive ordnance disposal units and the Niagara County HAZMAT team.