Champaign County first responders will hold a joint training exercise on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, starting at 9:00 a.m. at First Christian Church (3601 Staley Road, Champaign). The training exercise will conclude at approximately 12:00 p.m. and will help prepare first responders for rapid response emergency scenarios and mutual aid needs that may occur in Champaign County. This is part of a continuing effort to ensure that area first responders are well trained and fully prepared to work cooperatively in addressing major incidents in real time.
Residents can expect to see multiple first responder vehicles – including police, fire, and ambulance – as well as an increased police presence in the area. The training is designed to coordinate a timely response starting from the arrival of vehicles on-scene. First responder vehicles will be seen arriving, staging, and departing the area throughout the day. The exercise will involve the use of training firearms with non-projectile “blank” rounds. Blank rounds will be used only inside the building but may be heard by residents in the surrounding area.
The public is asked to stay clear of the training site to allow first responders space to properly conduct the exercise. First Christian Church and its parking lots will be closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic during the training. Both Staley Road and Curtis Road will remain open to all traffic.
Media representatives are welcome to cover the training exercise from a designated area in the southwest parking lot of First Christian Church. Champaign Fire Department personnel will be on-site to coordinate media throughout the day and a media briefing on the training exercise will be held at 11:00 a.m.
The Champaign Police Department wishes to thank the First Christian Church for their assistance and use of their facility for this training exercise.