Emergency drills in Hoffman Estates, Glenview

Fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles from 90 Midwest fire departments raced to three Chicago area locations, including the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, during a simulated disaster response drill Thursday morning.

The drill, which was conducted by the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, tested new response technologies by simulating a mock disaster caused by multiple tornadoes.

Fire Departments from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan were dispatched at 8:30 a.m. to staging areas in Hoffman Estates, Glenview and Tinley Park.

Each department was asked to send a fire chief, three ambulances, three fire engines, a ladder truck and a fire squad, officials from MABAS said.

The drill tested new technology such as ID scanners for each responder to ensure that unauthorized people do not enter a disaster scene.

"During 911, they had too many people showing up who wanted to help," said Gregory Peters, finance branch chief of MABAS.

Peters said the drill was the first of its kind in the Midwest and a live feed of the simulation was screened at the Fire Rescue International conference being held at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Around 17,000 firefighters from across the globe are in attendance at the conference, as well as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.