Firefighters participate in a "firefighter down" rescue during training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Despite there being no real fire, local fire departments responded during a training session Tuesday as if a real emergency were occurring.

In front of Clearview Mall’s front entrance, at least a dozen emergency vehicles responded to a planned exercise between fire departments including Butler City, Butler Township, Unionville, Slippery Rock, Prospect, Chicora, West Sunbury and Marion Township, along with a handful of ambulance services.

The training was meant to be as realistic as possible — This was clear after firefighters set off a couple smoke bombs and waves of civilians ran out of the mall. The actors were from the EMS training program, students from Slippery Rock University and other firefighters.

Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

A Butler fireman rolls up a fire hose after a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

A fireman loads up a fire hose after a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

A firefighter comes down the ladder of a firetruck during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

A Butler fireman rolls up a fire hose after a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

A firefighter comes down the ladder of a firetruck during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters enter Clearview Mall during a fire department training event in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

A firefighter comes down the ladder of a firetruck during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters enter Clearview Mall during a fire department training event in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

A fireman rolls up a fire hose after a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

Firefighters enter Clearview Mall during a fire department training event in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

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  Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  A Butler fireman rolls up a fire hose after a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  A fireman loads up a fire hose after a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  A firefighter comes down the ladder of a firetruck during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  A Butler fireman rolls up a fire hose after a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  A firefighter comes down the ladder of a firetruck during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters enter Clearview Mall during a fire department training event in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  A firefighter comes down the ladder of a firetruck during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters enter Clearview Mall during a fire department training event in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters practice helping “victims” during a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  A fireman rolls up a fire hose after a fire department training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters participate in a “firefighter down” rescue during a fire department training at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)
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  Firefighters enter Clearview Mall during a fire department training event in Butler on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/26/2024)

The civilians, struggling to breathe and yelling about a fire in the building, ran into the parking lot. Firefighters prepared to enter the danger zone.

“We’re acting like it’s a real fire, except we aren’t spraying water everywhere,” said Andy Hoehn of the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company.

As the firefighters entered, using hand tools and equipment meant to open doors during a fire, they were able to get civilians to safety. Some had more severe injuries and had to be carried out. Others could be seen limping or lying on the ground receiving medical attention. Paramedics at the scene gave blankets to civilians as they checked them over for injuries sustained.

Firefighters practice helping actors posing as victims during a training event at Clearview Mall in Butler onj Tuesday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Meanwhile, a helicopter landed outside the old JC Penney store near the mall’s entrance. Patients soon were “airlifted” from the scene to receive emergency medical care.

“That would have been what triage decided, the way they categorize the people, it would have decided what status they were. That one obviously would have needed to go to a burn center because of their injuries,” Hoehn said.

A firefighter comes down the ladder of a firetruck during a training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

As firefighters continued to pour into the mall and the helicopter took off, one of the truck’s cranes lifted firefighters to the building’s roof. On the ground, firefighters hooked up hoses and spread them out across the lot, getting into position to put out the fire.

Eventually, with radio signals saying there were multiple firefighters down, three were dragged out of the building to receive urgent medical care. In this particular simulation, multiple civilian victims were deceased.

“It simulates real-life things you have to deal with,” Hoehn said.

Firefighters practice helping actors posing as victims during a training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

The chaos was intentional. In some instances, firefighters not participating directly (who wore bright vests to distinguish themselves) followed firefighters around, telling them what kind of fire they were facing and ensuring everything went smoothly.

But with people everywhere screaming and walkie-talkies blowing up, the environment was meant to be realistic. This included a parking lot filled with cars from stores and restaurants that were still open. As some shoppers meandered near the exercise wondering what was going on and filming on their cellphones, being in the middle of a busy area served its purpose.

“This was all part of it, this was how we designed it. To make it as close to being real as possible, without flowing water and burning the building down,” said Randy Brown of the Unionville VFC. “This allowed everybody to play a role, get an assignment, go do that assignment and all the interaction between departments to make it come together.”

Firefighters participate in a training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Firefighters wait in the bucket of a firetruck during a training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Firefighters participate in a simulated “firefighter down” rescue during a training event at Clearview Mall in Butler on Tuesday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle