Gaines County hosting first responder hazmat training exercise

Seminole Memorial Hospital, Seminole Police Department, Seminole Fire Department, and Seminole EMS are all taking part. The drill is planned to wrap up Saturday afternoon.

Officials say this is a training exercise only, and there is no actual emergency. Residents near NW 5th Street and Avenue E should expect to see more emergency vehicles and personnel than usual.

The sheriff's office is asking residents to avoid the area during the exercise. If you live or drive through that stretch of Seminole this weekend, steer clear if you can. A cluster of police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances there doesn't mean something has gone wrong. It means local agencies are testing how they'd respond if something did.

Multiple agencies coordinating on a single hazmat scenario suggests Gaines County wants its teams ready before a real one hits, not after.