On August 25, 2010, the Multi-Agency Approach System – Illinois (MABAS-IL), in collaboration with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), successfully executed a large-scale, multi-state mutual aid response drill. The primary objective of this exercise was to rapidly mobilize a minimum of 90 fire companies within 90 minutes at each of the three designated reception sites in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. These sites included the North Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA) in Glenview, the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates, and the First Midwest Bank Theatre (formerly known as Tweeter) in Tinley Park.
Each participating MABAS task force was meticulously structured to include one commanding officer, one aide, three fire engines, one ladder truck, one squad unit, and three ambulances—either Advanced Life Support (ALS) or Basic Life Support (BLS)—from either private or municipal entities. The assembled task forces represented diverse regions across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, along with a special contribution from Michigan.
The task forces deployed for the drill were as follows:
- **North/NIPSTA**: Divisions 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 20, 29, 101, 102, 107, and 109.
- **West/Sears**: Divisions 1, 2, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 30, and 104.
- **South/Tinley**: Divisions 7, 15, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 207, 3501, and 38/25 (a combined division from two Illinois districts).
It’s important to note that the 100-series divisions originated from Wisconsin, while the 200-series divisions came from Indiana. Division 3501 was contributed by Michigan. For detailed maps showcasing the exact locations of these divisions, you can visit the following links:
- [MABAS-Illinois Division Map](http://www.mabas-il.org/MabasDivisions/Pages/default.aspx)
- [MABAS-Wisconsin Division Map](http://www.mabaswisconsin.org/mabaswisconsinmap.html)
A particularly historic moment during this drill occurred when Task Force 109 (City of Milwaukee) staged alongside Task Force 9 (City of Chicago). This marked the first instance since the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that apparatus from both cities worked together at the same incident—a testament to the evolving spirit of cooperation between these two major metropolitan fire departments.
This summary was prepared by Drew Smith, Deputy Chief of the Prospect Heights Fire Department. For those interested in the official press release, images from the event can be found below:
While the original images referenced in the press release were unavailable here, they can be accessed via the provided links. This drill not only demonstrated the readiness and capability of regional fire services but also underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration in emergency situations.