After the derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec in July 2013, the Transport Canada (TC) Transportation of Dangerous Goods Directorate (TDG) implemented regulatory and operational changes to improve emergency response to rail incidents involving flammable liquids. For example, Emergency Response Assistance Plans (ERAP) must now be in place for the transport of certain flammable liquids by rail.
The TDG Directorate made concrete changes following the recommendations of the Emergency Response Task Force, created after the Lac-Mégantic derailment. One of the recommendations was to create an exercise program involving first responders, emergency planners, railway industry members, ERAP holders from the petroleum industry, the Canadian Transport Emergency Centre (CANUTEC) and TC Remedial Measures Specialists (RMS) to test, evaluate, and improve the effectiveness of the ERAP Program.
Transport Canada, in partnership with the Defence Research and Development Canada Centre for Security Science (DRDC CSS) and in collaboration with partners from the industry and railway sectors, designed exercises to show the effectiveness of the response capabilities and the coordination of resources. The exercises allowed for the sharing of knowledge and established and promoted best practices to improve emergency response and better assist first responders if a train with flammable liquids derails.
On this page
- Overview of the exercises
- Results of the exercises
- 2015 to 2016 exercises: British Columbia
- 2016 to 2017 Athéna exercises: Quebec
- Contact us
Overview of the exercises
Transport Canada worked with DRDC CSS and involved many internal and external partners to test emergency response plans and identify opportunities for improvement. Four exercises were conducted in two series: The first series was in British Columbia and the second series in Quebec.
Each series consisted of a tabletop exercise and a full-scale exercise. A tabletop exercise means a non-physical activity to show how actions and procedures are used to respond to a simulated incident. A full-scale exercise means a physical activity where response personnel and equipment are used to respond to a simulated incident.
Each exercise was evaluated to identify strengths, gaps and areas for improvements. The results from each exercise were used to design the subsequent exercise.
Results of the exercises
The exercises provided all organizations involved with a better understanding of the hazards and risks related to the rail transport of flammable liquids, and helped develop and improve practices and response capabilities.
The exercises also increased the knowledge of fire departments in small communities by providing awareness training about:
- the TC ERAP Program
- the specialized response resources (petroleum industry, railway industry and TC) that can be accessed
- the extraordinary hazards, risks and challenges involved if a train carrying flammable liquids derails
- how to use the best response strategies and techniques with the help of industry experts
- how to coordinate efforts of all participating organizations under an organized command structure
The results were shared and used to help develop a national training program for first responders on the response to flammable liquid incidents in transport; a description of each exercise is provided below.
2015 to 2016 exercises: British Columbia (B.C.)
TC-CSS (Chilliwack) tabletop exercise: November 2015
Fire chiefs from the Fraser Valley Regional District took part in the first tabletop exercise in Chilliwack, B.C., on November 5, 2015. The one-day exercise included awareness training, followed by the tabletop exercise.
Vulcan full-scale exercise: March 2016
Firefighters from the Fraser Valley Regional District took part in the Vulcan full-scale exercise in Maple Ridge, B.C., on March 12 and 13, 2016. The two-day exercise included awareness training, followed by two scenarios: a full assessment of a simulated derailment site and extinguishing a live fire on a tank car prop.
The Vulcan full-scale exercise helped identify strengths and gaps, especially through the:
- results of the simulated responses
- evaluation of the CAPP-CAFC (Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs) e-learning (now called Canadian Emergency Response to Flammable Liquid Incidents in Transport, Level 1)
- awareness training by the petroleum industry, the railway industry and TC
2016 to 2017 Athéna exercises: Quebec
The Athéna exercises included a tabletop exercise and a full-scale exercise. Both exercises identified strengths and gaps, especially through the:
- results of the simulated responses
- evaluation of a checklist template: the Incident Response Guide (which is now called the Aide-Mémoire for First Responders)
- use of CAPP-CAFC e-learning as a pre-exercise requisite (now called Canadian Emergency Response to Flammable Liquid Incidents in Transport, Level 1)
- awareness training by the petroleum industry, the railway industry and TC
Athéna tabletop exercise: December 2016
Fire chiefs from municipalities around Lévis, Quebec took part in the Athéna Tabletop exercise in Beaumont, Quebec, on December 7, 2016. The one-day exercise included awareness training followed by the tabletop exercise.
Athéna full-scale exercise: February 2017
Firefighters from nearby municipalities took part in the Athéna full-scale exercise in Lévis, Quebec, on February 25 and 26, 2017. The two-day exercise involved awareness training, followed by two scenarios: a full assessment of a derailment using a virtual tool and extinguishing a live fire on a tank car prop.
Contact us
For a copy of the reports or any information about these exercises, contact the TDG Response Operations group.