The Belt conducted an Emergency Responders 101 course Oct. 21-23, 2025, with the Bedford Park Fire Department.

Manager of Rules and Compliance Clint Jonas said the training gave firefighters a working understanding of the railroad environment. It combined classroom instruction with hands-on field training and focused on emergency response planning, on-property navigation, points of contact and fuel storage areas.

The classroom portion included an in-depth presentation about derailments led by John Day from Response Management Services (RMS). The session discussed how first responders should handle different situations.

Field training was led by Director of Safety and Compliance Mark Labbe, who reviewed locomotive shutdown procedures and identified areas to focus on for fires. RMS also provided information about the different types of tank cars and various valves and safety devices.

Jonas said the fire department’s personnel expressed appreciation for the opportunity to train on the Belt’s property. He noted the course strengthened preparedness and reinforced the importance of coordination between the Belt and local first responders.