SD National Guard partners with RCFD for training

You know the phrase practice makes perfect? That's why both the Rapid City Fire Department and South Dakota National Guard teamed up to run through hazardous material training Tuesday afternoon at the civic center.

Guard soldiers, airmen and firefighters thoroughly went through the civic center on the hunt for a fake device, starting in the ice arena, going in the concession area, on the catwalk in the ceiling and in the equipment area.

"The more training that we have with our local first responding units, different agencies; it's just going to help in building that relationship building that trust on each other and being able to deal with any emergency in the future," says Lt. Col. Dale Gadbois, the commander for the 83rd Civil Support Team.

Both the National Guard and fire department have a hazardous material units. Exercises like this keep both teams skills sharp. This training Tuesday is a way for leaders of the guard and fire department to share leadership roles to better serve the community.

"Anytime we have more people on the ground, in the operations incident the faster we can contain and mitigate to get the issue solved. Working with them most definitely is a benefit on our part," says Captain Jeff Bauer with the Rapid City Fire Department.

Gadbois says they will continue to work closely with Rapid City first responders in the future to provide the best training exercises for their units.