CFA participated in a major multi-agency training exercise on Tuesday, which tasked crews to respond to a simulated aircraft crash at the Ballarat Aerodrome.
Representatives from CFA, Victoria Police, VICSES, Ambulance Victoria and Fire Rescue Victoria took part in the exercise with support from the Ballarat Shire Council.
CFA District 15 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Lachie Redman said multi-agency exercises play a vital role in strengthening emergency readiness.
"Joint training like this helps us build familiarity across agencies so that, in a real event, we're already speaking the same language and understand how each other operates," Lachie said.
"It's also a chance to refine how we communicate across different radio systems and work together as one coordinated unit."
First responders were briefed on the scenario when the exercise got underway to ensure their response was as realistic as possible.
The exercise simulated a light aircraft emergency involving a distressed passenger, culminating in a high-speed landing attempt at Ballarat Aerodrome.
The aircraft overshot the runway, collided with a fence, and broke apart on impact, ejecting several passengers.
Emergency crews responded as bystanders began gathering near the crash site.
The objective of the exercise was to test and improve the way emergency services work together when responding to large-scale emergencies.
CFA District 15 Commander Damien Scott, who oversaw CFA's response at the exercise, said he hopes crews never have to face such a serious incident in real life, but they are well prepared if required.
"Our crews performed well throughout the simulation," Damien said.
"Exercises like this let us challenge our plans, practice key roles and build confidence across the crew," Damien said.
"They're especially valuable for newer members getting exposure to this scale of response in a controlled environment."
Each agency held a debrief after the exercise concluded to review lessons learned and share improvement ideas.
"We'd rather identify any gaps in training than discover them during an actual incident," Damien said.
"Everyone involved has come away from this with better knowledge, stronger connections, and a clearer understanding of how we operate together."
