COUNTY EMERGENCY AGENCIES STAGE ANTI-TERRORISM DRILLS.

Byline: Cindy Arora Staff Writer

Public transit and law enforcement agencies held an anti-terrorism drill Wednesday morning at an El Monte bus station, based on the make-believe scenario of a ``dirty'' radioactive bomb exploding on a bus.

It was all part of a countywide effort to hone post-Sept. 11, 2001, skills in dealing with a terrorist attack and other emergencies.

In Pasadena, authorities were dealing with a make-believe situation in which a power substation failure affects the Gold Line light-rail transportation system.

At Los Angeles International Airport, they handled a jet fuel fire.

``There is a heightened awareness these days,'' said Jack Gabig, general manager for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. `'The training is to prevent things from happening.''

During the drill, a 50-member emergency crew responded to the mock detonation of a dirty bomb releasing radioactive contaminants and resulting in five make-believe fatalities.

``Our mission was to make a rapid triage ... get the patients and coordinate getting them into an ambulance and to a correct hospital,'' said Capt. Larry Burke of Fire Station 166. ``These days multicasualties can happen and we are doing all the things we would normally be doing if it happened.''

Participants in the drills included the Sheriff's Department's Transit Bureau, which provides security for the MTA system; along with personnel from the MTA, the FBI, the El Monte Police Department, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol, the coroner's office and AMR Ambulance.

In Pasadena, the MTA had an emergency drill involving the new Gold Line light-rail transit system at State Street near the Glenarm Street crossing.

During the scenario, a power substation failure prompted a response by various law enforcement and public safety agencies to implement their emergency procedure protocols.

The Gold Line has been undergoing several emergency drills to prepare for its summer opening, said John Mazzarella, spokesman for MTA.

``In order to open the Gold Line they are testing scenarios that could happen,'' he said. ``It's mainly for training the different law enforcements and fire departments on how to respond.''

At LAX, firefighters ignited thousands of gallons of jet fuel in a contained location at the airfield. The one-hour drill was mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration and part of regular training for rescue crews responding to airport emergencies.

A spokesman for county Supervisor Don Knabe said Knabe, who is a member of the federal Homeland Security Committee, was happy preparations were taking place.

``We are pleased they are doing drills to make sure people are up to speed in case of a possible terrorist attack,'' John Musella said.

Wire services contributed to this story.