121522 LAKE CONROE DISASTER DRILL

At 8:31 am Wednesday calls started coming to 911 dispatchers in Montgomery County. Reports of a van on fire, another of an explosion, and still another with a van on fire that exploded and had people lying all over Lake Conroe Park on SH 105 West. Conroe Fire along with EMS was dispatched. Since it was on the lake Montgomery County Precinct 1 Lake Patrol, Conroe Fire Lake Unit, and NMCFD Fireboat also responded. The first truck arrived on the scene and reported a van fully involved and at least two-dozen injuries lying around the park. Immediately additional units were called from Montgomery Fire, Lake Conroe Fire, MCHD, ESD 1 from Harris County, and NMCFD. Additionally, Conroe Police and Montgomery County Sheriff's Office responded. As firefighters battled the blaze, others started triaging the victims. Lake Patrol found one victim in the water and pulled them out. One officer then spoke to one of the victims who stated that a male in all black ran from the van shortly before it burst into flames. he was carrying several ice chests which he deposited on two picnic tables before he vanished. With the thought of the explosion and now possible explosive devices the order was given to get all the victims out of the area. Woodlands HAZMAT and the Montgomery County Fire Marshal's Office Bomb Unit were then dispatched. The drill ended at 11 am and officials say they found a few flaws which needed to be worked on, but that was the reason for the drill.