Pocono News Section

Explosives Course Guides First Responders

Explosives Course Guides First Responders - Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 7:30PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Thursday, Sep 17, 2009 @ 07:30pm EDT
Montgomery, Lycoming County- It was quite an explosive day in one part of Lycoming County.

It was all part of a training program held at the county landfill that’s helping to keep Americans safe.

With a series of deafening blasts, first responders gained first-hand knowledge in dealing with dangerous explosions.

It’s an issue Transportation Security Administration officials take on everyday.

TSA Inspector Andy Jones said, “(It) really gives you an understanding of how dangerous these things are. Based on what we saw today with the small amounts, you can imagine what a larger amount would do to an aircraft.”

The people learning here say the training is unique because they rarely get to see the results of explosives actually being blown up.

After the blasts, K-9 handlers worked their dogs through the scene to search out secondary explosives.

K-9 Instructor Andy Falco noted, “It kind of puts a little bit more pressure on the handlers to make sure the dogs are effective, because now we know if we miss something, what possibly could happen.”

Trainers say that’s especially important in battling terrorists.

Falco explained, “The dogs can smell through anything. You’ve got people that try to mask the odor sometimes and that never works.”

The explosives recognition and awareness course was conducted by the Tripwire Operations Group, which has trained thousands of first responders.

Tripwire owner Ryan Morris added, “This is giving them the knowledge, the tools, and the skills necessary to go out and carry out their mission, to keep the people of their jurisdictions safe.”

This is the second consecutive year the explosives awareness course has been held in Lycoming County.