AT THE READY EMERGENCY WORKERS STAGE MOCK 'ATTACK'.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

NORTHRIDGE - More than 600 Los Angeles firefighters, police officers and emergency crews staged the nation's largest anti-terrorism drill - a six-hour exercise that began Sunday night with a simulated chemical attack that felled hundreds of ``victims.''

Operation Dark Cloud played out at Northridge Fashion Center and involved eight local, state and federal agencies.

``We're in a new world of terrorism, where people are trying to destroy democracy - prevent people from going shopping, from traveling,'' said City Councilman Dennis Zine, on hand for the drill.

``This type of exercise is critical to maintaining public safety.''

In January, about 250 emergency services personnel launched the city's first anti-terrorism drill, Operation Night Hawk, at Los Angeles International Airport. That exercise revealed the need for better medical triage for victims while police searched for the terrorists - skills the crews intended to practice Sunday night.

The simulated attack began about 9:40 p.m., with a large cloud of white ``gas'' erupting in a planter south of the mall's center court, Fire Department spokeswoman Bill Wick said.

More than 200 volunteers from local churches and community agencies were assigned to portray victims and witnesses. As the drill got under way, several dozen of the volunteers poured out into the parking lot, many wheezing and coughing from the apparent effects of the unknown chemical.

Bodies could be seen lying inside the mall entrance, as firetrucks rolled up to the mall.

Participants included the Los Angeles police, Transportation and Emergency Preparedness departments; the county Department of Health Services, Fire Department and Health HazMat team; the California National Guard's 9th Civil Support Team; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

While Police Chief William Bratton earlier had stressed the vital need for terrorism training, Fire Chief William Bamattre said he looked forward to gauging how well police and fire personnel performed under

stress.

``It'll be a great opportunity to test this out in real time,'' Bamattre said. ``The reason we are doing this is to find areas ... to improve upon.''

With President George W. Bush last week warning that strong threats remain from such international terror organizations as al-Qaida, officials said the drills are an important part of law-enforcement training.

``I think it's good,'' said Raina Haro, 23, of Arleta, as she drove by the mall, where police and fire crews were amassed on the upper deck. ``It gives me a sense of security.''

Dana Bartholomew, [phone]

dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com

--For updated information about Operation Dark Cloud, visit www.lafd.org.

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Photo:

A ``victim'' of a mock terrorist attack is sprayed down by firemen as he leaves the Northridge Fashion Center Sunday night. Many local, state and federal organizations participated in the training exercise.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer