MONTOUR FALLS, NY (CortacaToday) – Area fire departments recently completed joint training and drills.

The Hazardous Materials Consortium, which consists of members from the Ithaca, Cortland, and Auburn Fire Departments, came together on Friday, September 27, 2024, at the State Fire Academy in Montour Falls. Attendees honed their skills in natural gas and propane emergencies, air monitoring, and sample collection.

The Consortium was formed with federal funding after 9/11 to strengthen partnerships, and better equip and allocate resources for mutual aid response. Officials say, “the greater communities of Auburn, Cortland, and Ithaca can be confident that their firefighters are ready to work together to respond to hazardous materials incidents of all types.”