A hazmat drill was conducted at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee recently. From left are Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Rielly Bryant, Lewiston PD Sgt. Michael Whalen and United Ambulance Paramedics Lucien Gendron, Stephanie Cordwell and Joe Lahood.

Colisee is scene of city hazmat drill

LEWISTON – The city of Lewiston hosted a weapons of mass destruction /hazmat drill at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on April 30.

The drill was set up by the National Guard’s 11th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team out of Waterville. The purpose was to help hone the skills of the Androscoggin regional WMD hazmat police response team, also known as the chemical ordinance biological radiation agents team.

The COBRA team is made of members from the Lewiston, Auburn and Lisbon police departments, the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department and United Ambulance Service.

The drill scenario was to test the response to a WMD threat found in the colisee – in this case weapon’s grade anthrax.

The teams were sent in to a mock “hot zone” to search for and contain anthrax. They were promptly decontaminated when they exited the area.

Officials said the drill was a success and was helpful to everyone involved.